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Digerati's avatar
Digerati
Level 4
15 years ago
Solved

BESR 2010 - Granular Restore of Exchange

Hello All,

I am evaluating / testing, BESR 2010.

I was using windows server backup which does the job to an extent but doesn't offer granular restore of exchange etc.

I restored the Windows Server Backup Image to a test server (Windows 2008, Exchange 2007 SP1) , installed BESR 2010 on the test server, completed the backup to the external usb hard drive.

I then installed the BESR 2010 trial onto my windows 7 box with outlook 2007 already installed, connected the BESR backup usb drive to the windows7 box, tried to run the Granular restore exchange option and getting the following : (ScreenShot attached) "Unable to find Exchange Information File"

Any suggestions help would be appreciated

Thanks and Regards


I have already had a look at the following posts (I am backing up the whole server, all volumes)


One thing from one of the support notes mention to upgrade GRO to 8.5 or something ? How can we just upgrade the GRO option ?

http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/314373.htm
http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/293323.htm
https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/besr-2010-unable-find-exchange-information-file-eif

Backup and Recovery
Error messages
MS Exchange
Restore
System Recovery
Windows
  • criley's avatar
    criley
    15 years ago
    Now don't you think the backup would need the Backup Information Folder again ? it is on the source / real server, do I just copy it from there to the machine i will test the GRO on ?

    No need. GRO looks inside the recovery point for this file.
  • Digerati's avatar
    Digerati
    Level 4
    15 years ago
    Reading through the BESR 2010 Guide, on page 211, I found this :

    Does this mean that the Granular restore option to be run from a 64BIT Machine only and not a 32BIT ?

    Note: Microsoft Exchange 2007 requires a Windows 64 bit operating system.
    Microsoft Exchange 2010 requires Windows Vista SP2 64 bit or Windows
    Server 2008 64 bit.

    Thanks
  • Digerati's avatar
    Digerati
    Level 4
    15 years ago
    Just tested the above Symantec statement and I am getting the same error as my first post on this topic ;

    I have now tried both on 32BIT and 64BIT Machines with Outlook 2007 32Bit installed.

    Hope someone can help - thanks

    Would Exchange database shutdown state matter in this case ?
  • criley's avatar
    criley
    Moderator
    15 years ago
    Would Exchange database shutdown state matter in this case ?

    So are the Exchange services stopped when the backup takes place? This could be the problem. Make sure the Exchange services are running before the backup starts. Once the backup is complete, look for the 'Backup Information' folder which is a hidden folder that is created on the volume where Exchange is installed.

    Hope that helps.

    *** Please mark thread as solved if you consider this to have answered your question ***
  • Digerati's avatar
    Digerati
    Level 4
    15 years ago
    Hi Chris

    Thanks for your reply, I checked the services and apart from Exchange Information Store Service most services are in a running state, this is a test box (which I created by restoring a windows server backup) on to this machine. The exchange databases were not in a clean shutdown state.

    But if for e.g. for a fully operational server (healthy server) this shouldn't be the problem ? isnt it ?

    I will be able to test BESR 2010 tonight on a operational Exchange Box, also do you think I should use granular restore option on a 32Bit or 64Bit Machine ? I would have Outlook 2007 installed.


    Also, have you came across this error before ?

    I will update this either tonite or tomorrow morning.

    Please keep any eye :-)

    Kind Regards
  • Digerati's avatar
    Digerati
    Level 4
    15 years ago
    Hi Chris,

    Thanks for your reply, Where can I find the backup information folder ? I went through the volume where exchange is installed "C:\" but can't seem to find it, have checked the option to show hidden files and folders.

    Regards
  • criley's avatar
    criley
    Moderator
    15 years ago
    If that folder is not being created, that's the cause of the error you are seeing. As I said, it could be due to the Exchange services being stopped.

    You need to use the Granular Restore Option on the same platform. In other words, if the Exchange server is 64bit, the machine running GRO must also be 64bit.
  • Digerati's avatar
    Digerati
    Level 4
    15 years ago
    Hi Chris,

    Thanks for your prompt reply, So to sum up :

    I will need a 64Bit Windows 7 or Vista SP2 with outlook installed, BESR 2010 installed and the backup drive to be able to restore Mailboxes, provided that Exchange services are running and operational and the Backup Information folder is being created ?

    What is the location of this folder ? is this c:\backup information ? assuming C drive is the drive where Exchange is installed irrespective where the databases and logs are (We have DB and Logs on separate HD but local to the same server).

    I will post the update tomorrow as I will do the test on another exchange box this evening.

    Please keep checking :-)

    Kind Regards
  • Digerati's avatar
    Digerati
    Level 4
    15 years ago
    Further info :

    I have Windows 2008 Server SP1 and Exchange Server SP1, i think that should be fine for BESR 2010.
  • criley's avatar
    criley
    Moderator
    15 years ago
    Yes, the 'Backup Information' folder should be getting created at the root of the volume where Exchange is installed.
  • GeoffKrie's avatar
    GeoffKrie
    Level 3
    15 years ago
    This folder contains the EIF file. Should the modified date on the file be the same as the last backup?
    Thanks