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simonk27's avatar
simonk27
Level 4
14 years ago
Solved

Exchange 2010 Backup Strategy Question

I am not sure, if I'm backing up all neccesarry, so here is my current setup:

Environment:
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard SP1 running Backup Exec 2012 SP1
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard running Exchange 2010 SP1 UR6

C:\ System with Exchange installation
F:\ Databases
H:\ Logs

Firstly, I am running a daily full backup of C:\ (system with Exchange installatin) and System State (SDR lamp is green) at 06:30 PM.
Secondly, I am running a full backup of Microsoft Information Store (with all databases selected) at 00:01 AM and a incremental at 03:00 PM.

Do I have to backup the FILES from F:\ (databases) and H:\ (logs)? Or is my setup correct? Do I miss something essential?

Thank you in advance!

2012
Agent for Microsoft Exchange Server
Backing Up
Backup and Recovery
Backup Exec
Tip-How to
  • RahulG's avatar
    RahulG
    14 years ago

    Do you have exchange agent license installed ?

    When you take the backup of the exchange it is going to backup your exchange databases and their log files .And even if you backup the E and  F drive by default the exchange database files and log files would get skipped .So if you backup the E and F drive, you would just have empty folders .

7 Replies

  • RahulG's avatar
    RahulG
    Level 6
    14 years ago

    Do you have exchange agent license installed ?

    When you take the backup of the exchange it is going to backup your exchange databases and their log files .And even if you backup the E and  F drive by default the exchange database files and log files would get skipped .So if you backup the E and F drive, you would just have empty folders .

  • CraigV's avatar
    CraigV
    Moderator
    14 years ago

    All you'd do is backup the Information Store using the Exchange agent. No need to backup the logs folders, as once the backup of the Information Store is completed, it would commit the logs to the IS.

    Everything else looks fine, but just make sure that what you're backing up in terms of directories etc complies with best practice for Exchange recovery from Microsoft.

  • Kiran_Bandi's avatar
    Kiran_Bandi
    Level 6
    14 years ago

    These TNs would be helpful to you in deciding what to be backedup.

    How to prepare Disaster Recovery of Exchange Server: http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO73805

    Important thing to note in the TN is: "Because Exchange uses Windows security for authentication, disaster recovery of Exchange cannot be separated from the disaster recovery of Windows."

    Recovering from a disaster of Exchange: http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO73806

  • simonk27's avatar
    simonk27
    Level 4
    14 years ago

    Thank you for your answers - very helpful.

    Volume F:\ Databases and H:\ Logs are both iSCSI SAN volumes. So in case of a disaster recovery, I would recover the server with SDR, mount the iSCSI SAN volumes, if needed, rename the drives letter to F:\ and H:\, configure databases, so that they can get overwritten and restore databases using Backup Exec 2012.

  • Kiran_Bandi's avatar
    Kiran_Bandi
    Level 6
    14 years ago

    Read Sush's comment in this discussion : https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/program-filesexchsrvr-backups

    If you want to protect complete exchange server, backup C:\,System State along with Exchange Information Store. Nothing else is required.