Im running into some backup issues and while going through all of the volumes in the server, our biggest file is priv1.edb which weighs in at a whopping 20gb. What exactly is this file? Is it the entire mailbox backup? Im already backing up the first storage group mailboxes, do I still need to backup priv1.edb?
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Importance of priv1.edb
- Thread starter undrcovr
- Start date
WhoKilledKenny
MIS
Yes, do not delete that file....
What is the issue you are having with the backup? Does it have something to do with running out of space were your log files reside?
What is the issue you are having with the backup? Does it have something to do with running out of space were your log files reside?
- Thread starter
- #4
Our tapes are 36/72 but the compression ration only goes as high as 1.28 so the max Ive seen any of the tapes hold is 45gb. Well, the priv1.edb file is 20gb alone! Total data that we need to backup is about 60gb...
If Im already backing up the Mailbox Store for all the users, do I still need to backup that file or are they the same thing?
If Im already backing up the Mailbox Store for all the users, do I still need to backup that file or are they the same thing?
WhoKilledKenny
MIS
The .edb file is backed up. Are you trying to fit everything on one tape because you don't have a backup solution that supports multiple tapes? or is it because you do not have a resource on-site that can change the tapes at night?
If you don't have the resouces (hardware or personel) to change the tape at night, here is a suggestion. Depending on the amount of transactions and how your logging is set up, the log files may be taking up too much space for backup.
Question: is circular logging enabled or disabled? Look in System manager, Storage Group Properties, Gerneral Tab. Is there a check next to Enable circular logging?
If yes, do nothing, this is not generating large amount of log files that would affect your backup.
If no, the following happens. Logs a generated when transaction take place on exchange. These log files are not deleted from the server until a backup completes. So, these logs can take up a lot of space on your backup tape.
So what do you do? Depends on you SLA regarding email. If the users expectation is to be able to recover all emails then circular logging is not an option. If your users are ok with restoring emails only from last nights backup then you can enable circular logging.
I would suggest researching circular logging or a more robust backup solution.
Also, you do have a policy that limits the size of user mailboxes, right?
If you don't have the resouces (hardware or personel) to change the tape at night, here is a suggestion. Depending on the amount of transactions and how your logging is set up, the log files may be taking up too much space for backup.
Question: is circular logging enabled or disabled? Look in System manager, Storage Group Properties, Gerneral Tab. Is there a check next to Enable circular logging?
If yes, do nothing, this is not generating large amount of log files that would affect your backup.
If no, the following happens. Logs a generated when transaction take place on exchange. These log files are not deleted from the server until a backup completes. So, these logs can take up a lot of space on your backup tape.
So what do you do? Depends on you SLA regarding email. If the users expectation is to be able to recover all emails then circular logging is not an option. If your users are ok with restoring emails only from last nights backup then you can enable circular logging.
I would suggest researching circular logging or a more robust backup solution.
Also, you do have a policy that limits the size of user mailboxes, right?
what are you using to backup Exchange?
It does sound like you are already backing up priv1.edb, that is the mailbox store. to gain some space if you really need to, you can do an off-line defrag of priv1.edb and that might shrink it down a bit.
But yeah, like it has been said, priv1.edb is all your mailboxes. so it is best to leave it be.
It does sound like you are already backing up priv1.edb, that is the mailbox store. to gain some space if you really need to, you can do an off-line defrag of priv1.edb and that might shrink it down a bit.
But yeah, like it has been said, priv1.edb is all your mailboxes. so it is best to leave it be.
- Thread starter
- #7
This organization hasnt had any IT personnel for 2 years now and I just started about 3 weeks ago...
Circular logging is enabled.
We are using Veritas Backup Exec 10 for our backup system on an HP StorageWorks Dat 72 single tape drive. The problem is that our tapes are 36/72 but the most I can get out of them is about 45 because of the crappy compression ratio. I have no choice but to use 2 tapes for succesful backups. Im the only IT person here so I have to schedule it accordingly.
I didnt set up the Exchange Server but Ive noticed that we have two \Exchsrvr\MDBDATA folders. So, in our selections we have \Echsrvr\MDBADATA and Microsoft Exchange Mailboxes. So my question is, am I backing up the same thing twice? Does priv1.edb = Mircosoft Exchange Mailboxes?
Circular logging is enabled.
We are using Veritas Backup Exec 10 for our backup system on an HP StorageWorks Dat 72 single tape drive. The problem is that our tapes are 36/72 but the most I can get out of them is about 45 because of the crappy compression ratio. I have no choice but to use 2 tapes for succesful backups. Im the only IT person here so I have to schedule it accordingly.
I didnt set up the Exchange Server but Ive noticed that we have two \Exchsrvr\MDBDATA folders. So, in our selections we have \Echsrvr\MDBADATA and Microsoft Exchange Mailboxes. So my question is, am I backing up the same thing twice? Does priv1.edb = Mircosoft Exchange Mailboxes?
WhoKilledKenny
MIS
Priv1.edb is the database for a store in a storage group. You can have multiple stores within a storage group, each store would have there own database.
Here is how you check:
1. launch Exchange System Manager
2. From the tree open Administrative Groups (if you don't see administrative groups right click on rootname(Exchange) properties and make sure Display Administrative groups is checked) -> Servers -> Storage Group.
3. Do you see one or more stores?
4. Right click on a store and choose properties. Choose the database tab. You will see the path to the priv1.edb file and the priv1.stm file that is being used for that store.
5. If you have multiple stores, use step 4 on each to determine the location of your database files.
Any .edb file or .stm file that is on the server and not in the database path of the store, may just be a copy someone created.
Here is how you check:
1. launch Exchange System Manager
2. From the tree open Administrative Groups (if you don't see administrative groups right click on rootname(Exchange) properties and make sure Display Administrative groups is checked) -> Servers -> Storage Group.
3. Do you see one or more stores?
4. Right click on a store and choose properties. Choose the database tab. You will see the path to the priv1.edb file and the priv1.stm file that is being used for that store.
5. If you have multiple stores, use step 4 on each to determine the location of your database files.
Any .edb file or .stm file that is on the server and not in the database path of the store, may just be a copy someone created.
Well, you are actually doing it the right way. the mailboxes do reside in priv1.edb. Veritas allows you to backup each individual mailbox so that if someone deletes an important email or their mailbox gets deleted, you can restore the mailbox without having to restore the entire database. But, it is also good to backup priv1.edb incase you loose the whole server and have to restore the database.
That is strange that you have two MDBDATA folders. you may want to use the exchange admin program (sorry, cant think of the real name for it off the top of my head) to see which folder exchange is using.
So, you may have to look into getting a bigger tape drive. Because it seems you are backing up all that you need and not stuff you dont.
That is strange that you have two MDBDATA folders. you may want to use the exchange admin program (sorry, cant think of the real name for it off the top of my head) to see which folder exchange is using.
So, you may have to look into getting a bigger tape drive. Because it seems you are backing up all that you need and not stuff you dont.
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