Exchange 5.5 and ARCserve for Windows NT

[timmi]

We have ARCserve for Windows NT running on our Exchange server, but the backup is always incomplete (with error messages like "Unable to open file...&quot thus we never get a full backup. I understand there is an addon for ARCserve called a Backup Agent that allows for a complete online backup of Exchange. Is it something we can download? Can anyone point me to it?

 

[shipmate]

There are several agents for arcserve. They include agents for SQL, open files, and Exchange.

Exchange is using the files that need to be backed up. If you stop all the exchange services, arcservce won't have any problems; you probably don't want to stop your email everyday to back it up though.....the agent will back it up without stopping anything.

You have to pay for the agent (or I did, a year ago or so), but it works well. I found a link for one for exchange 2k

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.asp?EDC=274205

 

[AlexIT]

Timmi,

You must purchase the Exchange Agent for ARCserve if you want to backup the Exchange folders correctly (and automatically.) Here is the download link for Computer Associates--->

http://support.ca.com/Download/patches/arcserve2000.html

but I think you can only get the Exchange Agent patches here, you need to purchase the agent first through your reseller.

Second, you could use a small batch file (scheduled to run at a time before your ARCserve starts backing up the server) to shut down all the exchange services first, then your standard ARCserve can backup all the files, and another small batch file is used to start-up those same exchange services after the server backup is finished (again scheduled to run at a time when the backup will be complete.)

Alex

 

[timmi]

Thanks, I've seen that one, but we aren't running 2K. I found a link here:

http://support.ca.com/techbases/asnt/16049.html

which describes a file to download (ftp://ftp.ca.com/pub/ARCserve-Options/nt0333.exe) from

http://support.ca.com/Download/patches/asnt.html

The write up (first link) sounds like it is the full blown Backup Agent, yet there is no cost associated with it. Do you mind looking at the description and seeing if it looks like what you used?

 

[timmi]

Oops, I slipped in on your post Alex. What do you make of

http://support.ca.com/techbases/asnt/16049.html

? That is the for the version of ARCserve we're using.

 

[AlexIT]

I think we ALL crossed posts LOL, I was writing my response to the first post, sent it, got kicked out and signed in to see a fourth post already...

Ok, I looked at that nt0333.exe and this is an upgraded agent file. I believe that you need to have an agent installed before you can apply this as the description is "UPGRADE for Backup agent for Exchange Server version 2.0 NT build 57. Required for ARCserve 6.5 NT. Requires Keycode." So I still think you need to contact a reseller to purchase the agent first (and this license keycode.)

We have a setup with two mail servers, so for us stopping one to backup doesn't cause problems...this is what we do now instead of using the Exchange Agent for one of our servers (saved $$.)

Alex

 

[timmi]

You know, I looked into batch files... I found this link...

http://www.winntmag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=19631

and used the commands to create a prebak.bat and postbak.bat file to put in ARCserve Pre/Post options. I'm going try out my batch files in a sec and if they shut down and start up the services like I think/hope, we'll save money too! Thanks for the idea.