Forum Discussion

BloodBaz's avatar
BloodBaz
Level 3
15 years ago

Exchange Server 2008 Transaction Logs

Hello,

When my BESR performs backups of our system and data drives, the Exchange Server transaction logs are not pruned.

I have carefully followed the two items explained in the following article:

http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/297799.htm

both of which are present and correct on our server, yet the pruning does not take place.

What else cause be the problem?
(I currently have 14354 Trans Logs dating back to August 2008 consuming 38Gb and could do with them being pruned cleanly)

I am using Windows Server 2008 and Exchange Server 2008 with SP1

Thanks,
Chris
Backup and Recovery
BESR 8.x
MS Exchange
System Recovery
  • BloodBaz's avatar
    BloodBaz
    15 years ago
    Hi Chris (Riley),

    Thanks for your support.  We have found out the cause of my Exchange Transaction Logs not pruning:

    Exchange Transaction Logs only get pruned if both the Transaction Logs AND the Storage Group databases are backed up under a SINGLE BACKUP JOB.

    My backup strategy was:

    System Backup: One Backup Job running a full backup of C: (System Drive) once a week.

    Data Backup: One Backup Job running a backup of D: (Data Drive) daily - Weekly Scheduled Base followed by Daily Incrementals.

    It so happened that following advise to hold Logs and Database on separate volumes, my Transaction Logs were located on the C: drive and got backed up via the first Job and my Storage Group databases were located on the D: drive and got backed up daily.  As both objects were not backed up under a single job, the logs were not pruned.

    Thanks again for your help in this matter.  Hopefully this discussion will help others out.  I think it would be good also to make the explicit point about "both TLogs and Storage Groups under a single job" in the knowledge base.

    Kind Regards,

    Chris.

     

15 Replies

Sort By
  • criley's avatar
    criley
    Moderator
    15 years ago
    What version of Exchange are you using? There is no Exchange 2008...

    Also, what version/build of BESR do you have?

    Are there any VSS errors in the event logs when you run a backup?
  • BloodBaz's avatar
    BloodBaz
    Level 3
    15 years ago
    Sorry for the mistake in version:
    I am using:
    • Exchange Server 2007 with SP1
    • BESR 8.0 (8.0.1.24976)
    I cannot find any VSS errors in Event Viewer.  It is as if, BESR doesn't notify Exchange First Storage Group that a backup has been performed and verified.
  • criley's avatar
    criley
    Moderator
    15 years ago
    I would recommend that you update BESR to 8.0.5 by running LiveUpdate (reboot required) to see if this helps.
  • BloodBaz's avatar
    BloodBaz
    Level 3
    15 years ago
    Thanks for your ongoing help.
    Running Live Update states that it is already up-to-date after a few seconds of checking.  Live Update report is as follows:
    ===START===
    The following Symantec products and components are installed on your computer.
    > LiveUpdate

    Initializing...
    Connecting to liveupdate.symantecliveupdate.com...

    Downloading catalog file (1 of 1), product up-to-date.
    All of the Symantec products installed on your computer are currently up-to-date. Remember to check for new updates frequently.

    LiveUpdate session is complete.
    ===END===
    Live Update Version is v3.2.0.68.  
    Would you recommend I try to download 8.0.5 manually from Symantec?
  • criley's avatar
    criley
    Moderator
    15 years ago
    Yes, looks like you'll have to do a manual download/install then.
  • BloodBaz's avatar
    BloodBaz
    Level 3
    15 years ago
    You suggested downloading BESR to 8.0.5.

    Going to http://www.symantec.com/business/support/downloads.jsp?pid=53845 lists the following latest versions (with Windows Server 2008 selected):
    • 8.5
    • 8.5 .1 SP1
    • 8.5 .3 SP2
    • 8.5 .3 SP3
    Am I right in thinking this is the version I should download and install? (8.5 followed by 8.5 .3 SP3).
    I will download these now on the assumption that it is.
    Thanks.

    EDIT: The link I mentioned above is not to download the product but to download patches.  Do you know where I can get hold of the latest version and whether my product key for 8.0 will actually work for 8.5?  Thanks.

  • criley's avatar
    criley
    Moderator
    15 years ago
    No, that's not the right version - your license key will not work with 8.5.

    I have uploaded the 8.0.5 service pack here:

    ftp://iosupport:iS*pp8rT1@ftp.entsupport.symantec.com/pub/support/outgoing/besr805/Symantec_Backup_Exec_System_Recovery_8.0_SP5_Patch.exe
  • BloodBaz's avatar
    BloodBaz
    Level 3
    15 years ago
    Thanks Chris.
    Downloaded the patch.  I need to dig out the BESR 8.0 CD in order to complete the installation.  Will get back to you.
  • BloodBaz's avatar
    BloodBaz
    Level 3
    15 years ago
    Hello Chris.

    Yesterday, I ran the patch that you have kindly supplied above and rebooted.
    BESR 8.0 version is now 8.0.5.34563.
    LiveUpdate Express shows no new updates (it didn't before however!).
    The scheduled backup ran last night as usual.

    My Exchange Server Transaction Logs however have still not purged, i.e.:
    "C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\Mailbox\First Storage Group" still contains 14687 files comsuming 14.3GB, the latest 19 "E000000xxxx.log" files have today's date on it (i.e. they are live)

    Rechecking the usual suspects:

    1) "vssadmin list writers" still shows
    Writer name: 'Microsoft Exchange Writer'
       Writer Id: {76fe1ac4-15f7-4bcd-987e-8e1acb462fb7}
       Writer Instance Id: {d80f6ab2-5441-4181-b6f1-9a4b480c7f6d}
       State: [1] Stable
       Last error: No error

    2) Manage Backups still shows:
    Drive Backup of system (C:) -> Edit Settings -> Options Step -> Advanced Button -> Perform full VSS backup = Checked

    I am now using the latest BESR 8.  
    Any other ideas?
  • BloodBaz's avatar
    BloodBaz
    Level 3
    15 years ago
    Hello,

    Sorry to bump this problem but I was getting good suggestions from Chris Riley but none have identified the problem yet and 3 weeks have passed.

    My Transaction Logs are still growing and it won't be long before the problem becomes more serious (regarding disk space)

    Thanks,

    Chirs