Exchange Backup procedure and how to test

[user9876]

I have a Windows 2000 server running exchange 2000. I host multiple sites and email accounts for these domains. I use the Windows backup solution and when i back up i choose to backup, I choose Microsoft Exchange Server\SERVERNAME\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group, when i go to check my backups and go into the folder I have 3 folders (1)Log Files (2)Mailbox Store (3)Public Folder Store but if i select them and view the right hand side of the screen, nothing shows up. What am i doing wrong and also, how can i test to see if the backup is working.

 

[zoeythecat]

I think you need to navigate to the folder level by this example:

e:\Exchsrvr\mdbdata (this will backup the whole folder. within this folder you will see the priv.edb and pub.edb along with the log files). This is what you need to backup. D

 

[paulh1111]

I have the same interest in hosting multiple sites on one server. How do you do this? Any help would be appreciated.thanks.

 

[crobin1]

User9876, you are doing nothing wrong. It is simply the way the Exchange piece for NTBackup works. Since it does not do a "brick-level" (i.e. individual mailbox) backup but backs up the entire database there is not really anything to show on the right-hand side of that list. When you do a restore you restore the whole database, so that is all that you can select.

The first place to check would be the backup logs to see if there are any errors listed there. If there are no errors there then you can be assured that the backup worked.

For testing a backup/restore (since it's also good to test even if the backup logs indicate success), see the following MS KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;328759

At the bottom of that document there are links to some white papers with more details about backing up and restoring Exchange.

Zoeythecat, while you can backup that folder, the backup will only work if all Exchange services are stopped. Otherwise the databases and logfiles will still be open and NTBackup will not be able to access them.

Hope this helps.

 

[zoeythecat]

Crobin,

I do not believe that is true. NT Backup is Exchange aware. I do believe you can back up the databases while the Exchange Services are running. I provide links that should back up my statement:
(1) Restoring Exchange 2000 databases using NT Backup

http://www.petri.co.il/restore_exchange_2000_2003_with_ntbackup.htm

(2) Backing up Exchange 2000 databases using NT Backup

http://www.petri.co.il/backup_exchange_2000_2003_with_ntbackup.htm

 

[buddafish]

the cat is correct...

if you want to test it, you will need to restore the full store to an offline server (preferred) or on your production server (not preferred).

a few ideas about checking success... Ontrack Power Controls --> allows you to parse the edb and actually retrieve / restore / ect brick level by mail item, ect...

another way, use software like Veritas or Brightstor that will do brick level backups. then you can delete some mail from a box and restore a few pieces and checkout how it works without the risk of restoring a full edb just for testing... although... it should work just fine....just do it after hours


scottie

 

[crobin1]

If you notice, the article on Mr. Petri's site goes through the steps of doing an online Exchange backup, and he only selects "Microsoft Exchange Server\Server\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group" for the backup selection (check the second picture). He does not select "C:\Exchsrvr\mdbdata" (or D: or E:, whichever holds the EDB and log files).

Your are correct in that selecting the "Microsoft Exchange Server" section in NTBackup absolutely does use the Exchange-aware portion of backup. Selecting the physical drive\folder to backup the EDB and log files does NOT use the Exchange-aware portion of backup but uses only the file-level backup, and that will fail if Exchange services are running or, if they are running, if the particular database you want to backup is not dismounted. For information on offline backups see MS KB article

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;296788

The following article was also linked from Mr. Petri's site, but is the MS article about online Exchange backups:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=258243

 

[zoeythecat]

You are correct. Just trying to understand what he was asking. When you run a back of Exchange you do not need to backup the directory. You back up the information store exactly the way he was doing it. I was just confused what he was asking. Of course you will get errors if you attempt to backup the directory.

Good point. Sorry for adding any confusion here.