Newbie: How to backup MS Exchange

[gtog]

Hi,

I am trying to backup MS Exchange. The tape drive and backup software is on a server called fcserver01, and MS Exchange on fcserver02. We are using Veritas BackupExec 8.5. When selecting what to backup I select fcserver02, then MS Exchange, and then select the mailboxes. But when I run the backup, after some time I encounter the error message:

"The drive hardware is offline!

Please confirm that the drive hardware is powered on and properly cabled."

Of course the drive hardware is powered on and properly cabled, so something else is going wrong. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards, George

 

[Horror]

I would make sure that BackupExec 8.5 is all patched up and that you have no network issues.

Have you tried and IS and DS backup not an individual mailbox backup?
Does this work?

Have you got all the correct agents for BackupExec?

 

[jackofalltrades99]

try using ntbackup to backup the store. If it works, then I would not think its a problem with the hardware or exchange server, but the Veritas Software.........

 

[gtog]

jackofalltrades99, the tapestreamer is in fcserver01, Exchange is installed on fcserver02. So running ntbackup on fcserver01 will not allow me to backup Exchange which is on a different server I'm afraid.

 

[Jeepix]

gtog- can you back up anything else? Try backing up any other file(s) (non-exchange) to see if the backup program and backup device (tape drive) are working properly. Download Backup Exec 8.6 and update your program, also.

 

[gtog]

Jeepix, I can backup anything on fcserver01, but Exchange is on fcserver02. I will try if I can backup any other files on fcserver02 and let you know. Backup program and backup device are working properly. We already have version 8.6 and the latest update (I know, in my first post I said we have 8.5, but that should be 8.6).

 

[Jeepix]

gtog-

And you have the Backup Exec remote agent for Exchange?

 

[gtog]

Jeepix, that might very well be it! I couldn't find this service in the available services. Would this:

http://store.veritas.com/product.asp?sku=2294612

be the service we need? Only this is for the 9.0 version, and we have 8.6.

Anyway, thanks so far for your help.

George

 

[Jeepix]

Yeah, kind of, but with 8.6 you order the Exchange remote agent and they give you another serial # to activate it. You run the install for Backup Exec, then chose the Remote Install/Agents and then it'll ask for a serial #. You enter the one you bought and it'll 'activate' the Exchange remote agent. Push it to the Exchange server. That will let you back up the entire Exchange store(s), or do individual mailboxes (brick-level), so you can retrieve down to the individual message, if necessary. I'd mess around with restoring individual messages before you need to actually restore one for someone. It's best to restore by redirecting (to a temporary mailbox) and then move it over to the person's mailbox.

 

[gtog]

OK, thanks again Jeepix. It will take some time before we have obtained the Exchange remote agent. I will let you know if anything still goes wrong after that.