How to backup Exchange 2010 in a DAG environment

 

Here are the answers to your queries:

1. The client has 1 CAS and 2 MBX in a DAG scenario.

Yes. I think this should be OK

 

2. how many Exchange Agent licenses need to be purchased?

As you have 2 MBX serves , you will require 2 Backup Exec Agent for Microsoft License keys.

 

3. Is there any special step i need to backup these Exchange servers?

Refer to the following technotes:

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO24102 : About backing up Exchange Server 2010 Databases

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO24097 : Backing up Exchange

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO13285 : Best practices for Backup Exec 2010 Agent for Microsoft Exchange Server

 

4.  I believe there is, so i need steps to go about backing up the Exchange servers most especially in this DAG........ refer to above technotes

Hi Nene,

This is the solution

 

1. The client has 1 CAS and 2 MBX in a DAG scenario.

: Setup is fine in regards to backupexec

 

2. how many Exchange Agent licenses need to be purchased?

: One exchange license key & you will require remote agent for windows on one CAS node & 2 mailbox node

3. Is there any special step i need to backup these Exchange servers?

: In backupexec to select DAG from selection you will have to select from place shown by me in the JPEG attached

To backup DAG you need to add the your account which you are using for taking backup  in Organization management by going to active directory users & computers

4 Your 4th questions answers have been discussed in point no 3

5. About Hyper-V when I try to backup another site running Hyper-V with 3 guests, the guest server crash and i have to rebuild the guests. Most the guest machine be powered off if i have to do a backup?

: Your most guest machine would be powered off yes backupexec will be able to backup them too please follow the document to refer the best practisce for hyperv backup & hyperv backup options

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO21770

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO23066

 

With hyperv backupexec allow you to restore the guest machine on same host or even to different host

 

I am sure now your douts are clear now

Thank You

Hi Guys,

Thank you for responses.

Most of my queries have been confirmed.

But if the virtual machines have to be powered off, what about the Exchange servers that are on Hyper-V?

I will need to power up the guests in the morning before users come.

Remember I want the Exchange online always.

Can't I backup the Hyper-V in an online state?

Also, for the Exchange backups after the first Full backup what is best to be done, Incremental or differential backups?

Do I save the Full backup jobs in the same location with the Incrementals or Differentials when Backing up? Do I need to save them in a single folder and Archive them the same way?

Hi ,

 

With backupexec you can backup virtual machine in online & offline state so yes you will be able to backup exchange without any issue

 

Now to backup exchange you have 2 ways using hyperv agent you can backup the whole vhd & restore it back(If your exchange is part of guest machine on your hyperv if it is not then forget about this option)

2nd wat is you can backup exchange by installling remote agent as discussed in above points with one excange license & you will be able to do GRT backup of exchange which will be backup the whole Information store & will allow you to single email & mailbox restore for your mailbox & public folder

Doing incremental GRT backup of exchange is good option but you can only take backup of that on disk & not on tape as it is not supported so if you have good disk storage & if you afford taking backup on disk then you can configure policy & perform GRT full & incremental backup for exchange on disk

For differential you can do GRT backup so I would recommend you do full & incremental if you have good disk space or continue taking full GRT backup of exchange on tape as most simple way

 

Thank You

hi itsmeaffinity,

Thank you for the response.

Right now i backup Exchange Full and differential to Disk then i move the archive to tape. i am a bit scared of the incrementals cos when it fails or there is an issue i won't be able to restore using the complete set of incrementals.

But since with differential i can restore with the last full and the last differential.

Is it a nice idea to back up both full and differentials into the same folder?

Sori if this sounds boring. But i really need to get some things clear from experienced admins.

Hi ,

 

Any updates please mark the post  as solved if your douts are clear.

 

Thank You

Hi Itsmeaffinity,

Thank you for your response.

At the moment i have Exchange full and Differential backups done to Disk which i later Archive to Tape.

Concerning your previous response about using Exmerge when i need to restore.... I need help with this.

I am yet to test a major restore of the Exchange server from Tape.

I have Backup Exec System Recovery of the Exchange server on a different server in case of a failure.

This is Full and Differential every week.

I intend to Recover using the BESR 2010 and restore the last Exchange Full and Differential Backups from tape to this new server.

What is your honest suggestion and guidance as to the right way to do my backups Since i am Archiving all backup jobs to Tape?

 

Thank you. I really need a lot of advice from experienced admins.

Hi Nene,

 

If you are using BESR which is backupexec system recovery it is different product & is used to perform only disk based backup which you are doing with BESR there is no option to do GRT backup as it perform volume level backup so yes in that case full & differential backup are fine & that would help you to recover the server as whole as it would contain an image

In above post I was mentioning the functionality of backupexec & not BESR

 

So in additon to this I would recommend that use backupexec with exchange license key & then perform the GRT backup of exchange to disk & then archive it to tape

With BESR continue taking full & differential

 

Thank You

I have also similar configuration and facing issue with Exchange 2010 Backup.

The configuration is as follow:

2 x CAS NLB (hubs) under Windows 2008 R2 (physical)

1 x DAG (with 2 x physical Mail Servers) under Windows 2008 R2

2 x Media Servers NetBackup 7.0.1 under Windows 2008 R2  installed on Mail Box Server

1 x Master server NetBackup 7.0.1 under Windows 2003 R2

 

The GRT policy is configured using Snapshot VSS, GRT enabled.

- DAG              MAIL1

- DAG              MAIL2

NFS Services are installed on MAIL1, MAIL2 ( MEDIA SERVERS)

NFS Client  activated on MAIL1, MAIL2 ( Media Servers)

NFS Server is activated on MAIL1, MAIL2 ( Media Servers)

NetBackup Client Service is modified on MAIL1, MAIL2 with a logon account Domain Admin , Exchange Services, Organization Management.

Commands bpclntcmd and bptestbpcd are ok.

Can any one help me out.