Disaster Recovery Backups

[dtrujillo]

I'm trying to create a new backup to tape strategy and would like some pointers of what exactly needs to be backed up to have a disaster proof backup set. I need to backup the following: Active Directory, Exchange 2007, and Microsoft SQL 2005. I'm currently backing up the information stores, the databases, and our domain controller's system state. I doubt that's enough to be able to recover from a complete disaster. Can someone share with me what exactly needs to be backed up to successfully restore our services from nothing but a tape?

I'm using BE2010 R2 with the following agents: AD, Exchange, and SQL.

Thanks!

[AmolB]

Hello 

 To recover from disaster recovery you need to have most recent backups of 

 C drive, System state and Shadow copy components. For Exchange & SQL in 

 addition to above you need to have the recent backups of the DB's.

 Also you will have to catalog the tapes before restoring the data.

[pkh]

You might want to read the chapter in the Admin Guide on Disaster preparation and recovery

[dtrujillo]

When you say the "C" drive, does that have to include everything on the drive or can I just include the "Program Files" directory for SQL and Exchange?

[AmolB]

Well you also need the Windows directory. Its recommended to backup entire C drive.