Cannot backup Exchange database files
I am trying to do specific backups of our Exchange 2010 databases and having issues. We have 2 Exchange servers running in a DAG and are built as VMware virtual servers, hosted on VMware ESXi v5.1.0. We have the VRay for VMware licensing installed, and both Exchange servers have the latest Backup Exec Agent for Windows installed on them.
In Backup Exec 2014, I select the Exchange server, select Backup and Backup to Disk. I edit the selection list, and only select the harddrive/folder that houses the Exchange database files. All my .EDB files are checked, but greyed out. When I mouse over them, this popup appears: "TODO-DBLK_FLAG_UNSELECTABLE_REASON_ESE" If I run this job as-is, the EDB files do not get backed up. In addition, if I leave the selection, then Edit the backup options, I do not see any option in the left-hand column regarding Exchange-specific options, such as GRT. This is the same regardless of which Exchange server I select. I can only backup my Exchange databases if I do an entire backup of that VMware virtual server. Is this in fact the way it is designed or is there something going on that I'm not seeing. I don't necessarily want to backup my entire virtual server just to get my Exchange database, I want to be able to backup just the databases themselves at times.
the EDB files are automatically excluded and do not get backed up.
Take a look here for Backing up VMware data http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO99371 and the Best Practices for Backup Exec 2014 Agent for Microsoft Exchange Server http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO74428
Since your Exchange servers are running in a DAG, you need to use the Exchange agent to backup your Exchange mailboxes. Backing up the individual Exchange server VM will not do. There is no GRT support for applications/databases which are spread over a couple of VM's, like Exchange in DAG.
