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Zahid_Haseeb
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited

Exchange Serve 2010 Backup of Databases and Restore to RDB

 

Today we are going to discuss the databases of Exchange 2010 HA Backup and Restore Activity. In this Activity we will discuss how to take the Backup of Exchange 2010 Databases and Restore in RDB in a Exchange 2010 HA scenario.

In this discussion we will also try to cover the basic steps which required starting the Backup of Exchange2010 databases. The Steps will cover the Attributes, Clients and Backup Selections TAB in the NetBackup Policy for Exchange 2010.

  

Environment

NetBackup Server = 7.1

OS of NetBackup Server = Win2008 R2

NetBackup Clients = 7.1

OS of NetBackup Clients = Win2008 R2

Clients product which’s backup will be perform = Exchange Server 2010 (two nodes) under HA

 

Exchange 2010 HA Details

Exchange Server Node1 has a database (DB1) of let suppose 50Mailboxes.

Exchange Server Node2 has a database (DB2) of let suppose 50 other Mailboxes.

Exchange Server node1 replicating its database to Exchange Server node2 (replicating not on/over node2 DB)

Exchange Server node2 replicating its database to Exchange Server node1 (replicating not on/over node1 DB)

See the below SNAP for reference of the Exchange2010 HA scenario in which both databases backup we will take via NetBackup Server.

 

 

Note:

The above snap is just to show as an example so that all can understand what is the scenario. Imagine that each Exchange 2010 hosts one Database.

 

Exchange 2010 Backup

Before going to start the Backup Activity stop the firewall on both Nodes of Exchange 2010 machines (Does not stop the firewall from the Administrative Tools=>Services. This will disconnect you machine from Network). See the below SNAP for your reference. Select the RED highlighted box and click on OK:

 

Note:

 

Open the below ports in case to keep the OS Firewall ON. or your Exchange 2010 Nodes are behind Network/etc Firewall.  

13724(vnetd)

13782(bpcd)

1556(pbx)

13720(bprd)

 

Now let we start creating the Backup Policy for Exchange Databases.

Open NetBackup Console=>Right Click on Policy=>New=>Policy Name=>Click OK and you will find a below window

  • Select Policy type as MS-Exchange-Server
  • Select Storage from Policy Storage
  • Do not click on Enable Granular Recovery because you are not going to take the Granular Backup and it’s a simple Databases backup.
  • Select the Perform Snapshot Backups check box
  • Select one from the Databases Backup Source. Here you have three choices. We will throw light on each below 
  •         Active Copy Only

NetBackup Server uses this option when NetBackup takes the backup of Database from the Active Database. The Active Database is the Active copy of Database not the replicated copy. We use this option when we may have single machine and there is no replicated copy or no replication scenario and the Exchange2010 is on single Node.

Passive Copy Only

NetBackup Server uses this option when NetBackup takes the backup of Database from the Passive Database. The Passive Database is the Passive copy of Database which is the replicated copy.

Passive Copy and if not available the Active Copy

NetBackup Server uses this option when NetBackup takes the backup of Database from the Passive Database and if for some reason the Passive Copy is not available the NetBackup will take the Backup from the Active Copy of Database.

  • Preferred Server List is the list of the Exchange 2010 Nodes which will participates in the Exchange 2010 backups through which the NetBackup takes the Backup.

 

The above things we discussed from the Attributes TAB of Exchange 2010 Policy and now we will move forward towards the Clients and Backup Selections TAB. The Schedule TAB is same as others so we will not discuss this in our conversation.

  • Clients TAB is use to approach the Exchange 2010 Servers from a single name. Here in the Clients TAB we define the virtual name of virtual DAG which itself pick the backups of databases of both databases. For example as the above first SNAP shows that DB1 and DB2 is on each Nodes of Exchange 2010. So what virtual DAG will does it’s the front for VERITAS NetBackup and all databases are behind the virtual DAG.

NetBackup asks the databases from the virtual DAG and it(virtual DAG connect the session with the databases)

I hope this is enough to understand the Client TAB role in the Exchange 2010 Backup Policy. See the below SNAP for reference:

  • Backup Selections is the final step towards completion of Exchange 2010 Policy. From the backup Selections TAB we select the Directive for Exchange2010

The Backup Policy is ready to trigger. Start the VERITAS NetBackup Server Policy for Exchange which starts picking the Backup.

 

Exchange 2010 Restore

Above we took two databases backup and now we do a Restore Activity of one Database from the Two databases Backup through which we will sure that our Backup was successful. There are multiple ways to Recover t he Exchange Server but it depends on what type of disaster happened. So in the below Activity we will do the Recovery of Database to the Recovery Database “RDB.”.

So now let’s start the Exchange 2010 recovery of Database which backup we performed above. Starting the Recovery of Database

Below are the steps which we will perform step by step to recover the Database.

  1. Create the RDB
  2. Throw some light on the command which issued in step # 1
  3. Verify that the Database is created.
  4. Specify NetBackup Machine and Policy Type
  5. Select the Database which will be Restore
  6. Restore Mark Files

 

Create the RDB

Create an RDB on which we will restore the Database backup. Make sure that when create the RDB the Exchange 2010 Node should be connected with physical name not via Virtual name if you are on a remote terminal. See the below SNAP for reference how to create the RDB:

Throw some light on the command which issued in step # 1

If you see the PRI- in the above SNAP this is the Server Name on which you are going to create the Recovery Database. The Server Name/Node Name should be the physical name of Node.

 The "E" drive in the above SNAP is the Hard Disk Partition where the Database Backup will be Restore.

The Recovery\RDB are the folders where the Recovery Databases resides. 

 

Verify that the Database is created

See the below SNAP which confirms you that the RDB is created. 

Specify NetBackup Machine and Policy Type

Exchange 2010 Node should be connected with physical name not via Virtual name if you are on a remote terminal.

Open Backup, Archive and Restore and go to the Specify NetBackup Machine and Policy Type. Make sure that the Source Client for Restore should be virtual DAG name and the Destination Client for Restore should be the physical Exchange Node name on which you created the RDB

 

Select the Database which will be Restore

In this step we will select the Database which you are going to restore. See the below SNAP for reference:. 

 

Note:

You may notice above that there are two DBs(DB1 and DB2) which backup we took in the above Backup Activity

Restore Mark Files

Before clicking the Start Restore button click on General TAB first and see the red highlighted DB1 name.

Make sure that you replaced the Database name. As the above example this DB1 name should be replaced with RDB which (RDB) we have created above.

Now see the below SNAP for reference how it will look like after replacing the name of DB1 to RDB. Make sure the the PATH is as it is.

Now you can click on Start Restore so that the Restore will start. To verify for the initial errors put a check on the Verbose in the View Status windows as shown below.

Note: But if you have a full and Differential backup need to restore and you want to restore one by one means first you want to restore Full then the Differential backup, so you have to un check the Commit After Last Backup Se is Restored check box from the Microsoft Exchange TAB when restore the Full backup and put the check when restore the Differential backup. For more/detail information see the below link too.

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO41852

 

 

Now here the Backup and Restore procedure has been completed. I hope the above procedure I tried to explain will be very helpful and detailed to start the Backup and Restore in a simple Exchange 2010 HA environment. 

Comments
V4
Level 6
Partner Accredited

Thanx zahid for sharing this.. looking forward more

Zahid_Haseeb
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited

Thanks Speedfreak. I always try to share what I experience

Zahid_Haseeb
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited

Recently I have found one superb link from Symantec. Although its old but this is really good work from Symantec. I even did not watch the VDOzzZZ but want to share the link(you may watched this already)

 

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO41825

V4
Level 6
Partner Accredited

indeed it should be ... .lol

Gerald_S__26
Not applicable

Edited : Fixed

 

Ok it's off topic : You greyed out all informations about the customer real servername but forgot on the 6th one. https://xxxxxxxxx devil

 

Should be fixed asap !

Stanleyj
Level 6

This is my first exchange restore from NBU 7.1 and im having a problem with the databases after the restore.  I followed these instructions to the letter and when everything completes my RDB database shows empty.

When i go look in the directory for the RDB i see two databases.  My recovery database and the one that i restored.  i was thinking it would restore my data into the recovery database but its creating it like its just a common file restore.

 

Really theres not a whole lot of options here so i dont really know what im doing wrong.

The RDB is dismounted before the restore and then shows mounted after but whe i run the

Get-mailboxstatistics -database RDB i get nothing.  Any Ideas/

Zahid_Haseeb
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited

Did you created a new RDB or restored the Exchange2010 backup on the existing ?

Stanleyj
Level 6

before attempting the restore i created a RDB using the powershell command listed below on the active node.

New-MailboxDatabase -Recovery -Name <name of RDB> -Server <ServerName>

 

 

Zahid_Haseeb
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited

Did you try to create a different name of RDB and tried to restore ? may be the same name of RDB causing problem.

Second do you see any Error/Warning regarding Exchange in the Event Viewer under APP/SYS logs after the Restore done ?

Navs
Not applicable

 

http://blogs.pointbridge.com/Blogs/olson_andy/Pages/Post.aspx?_ID=16

 

The RDB must be named the same as the original database

vamsy_valluri
Level 2
Certified

http://www.symantec.com/tv/products/details.jsp?vid=736717726001

 

The above link is the wonderful video link to know how to perform NetBackup7.0-Restore Exchange2010 DAG to RDB or RSG.

Paul_Schandel
Not applicable

I realize this old.  But I just wanted to comment, that in fact the RDB - DOES NOT - need to be the same as the original. Nor does the filename.

Just thought I would clarify that for others who come across this.

Thanks

Zahid_Haseeb
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited

Thanks Vamsy for your update :) ...This is what you shared worth for ppl who are searching solution and can get your and my post too for much details in his regards.

Arvind_Yadav
Level 3

Thanks Zahid,

     Very Useful and Helpful Article you have created!! 

Arvind Yadav

Aaren_Chris
Not applicable

Taking Exchange backup is a good practice and you never know when it would save your life. Taking backup using NTBackup utility is quite simple but you can get stuck when your backup file (.BKF) gets corrupt.

There are tools that can help in repairing Exchange BKF file such as Stellar Phoenix Exchange BKF Recovery. In other cases, if Exchange database gets affected there are software available for data recovery from a damaged database.

StefanosM
Level 6
Partner    VIP    Accredited Certified
very helpful article, good job. But whyI need to open the bprd port?
tarmizi
Level 5
Partner Accredited Certified

Hi Zahid,

If I were to backup Exchange DB to tapes, may I apply these steps? How about version 7.0.1?

Thank you

Zahid_Haseeb
Moderator
Moderator
Partner    VIP    Accredited

We can take the backup on tape. I suggest to use the latest version of Netbackup.

Itzul
Not applicable

Thank you Zahid for the single most helpful article on the matter I found. It amazes me that something so *simple* can be made so confusing in books and Technet articles. The only way it could be better would, in my opinion, be if you added the final steps (although I realize that is a purely Exchange thing).

Regards,

JBGonzalez

Version history
Last update:
‎05-05-2011 01:12 AM
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