Flat file Exchange 03 backup using BE 9.1 on Win 03...

[Frank_Workman]

Hello,

I'm starting to investigate flat file backups of Exchange 2003 on a Win 2003 server using BE 9.1, and I'm wondering if the details outlined in Veritas document ID 248243, "How to perform a 'flat-file' backup of Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server" are still applicable.

Any tips or advice?


Thanks

[Joshua_Small]

Yes,

don't.

There are a myriad of ways of backing up exchange which are actually supported. Purchasing the agent will kill several birds with one stone:

- Allowing brick level mailbox backups
- Actually verifying the data as it is extracted. In our experience, a failed backup will be the first indication your store is corrupted. Do flat files, and you'll end up doing an eseutil repair six months down the track, and losing half your data.
- You can do backups without actually shutting down services with the agent.

[priya_khire]

Hello,

The steps for flat file backup for Exchange 2003 will be more or less similar to the document mentioned. However, as already stated in the previous reply to this post, it would be more convenient and better if you use the Exchange agent to perform Exchange 2003 backups.

Refer to the following technote for more information on this:

Title: How to protect Exchange 2000 and 2003 servers using the Backup Exec for Windows Servers Exchange Agent http://support.veritas.com/docs/266074

In order to acquire the agent, you can contact our sales team at the following:

http://www.veritas.com/contactus/ContactUsHome.jhtml

Hope this answers your question. In case of further doubts, do write back to the forum.

Additional Information :
For information on the recent VERITAS Backup Exec security vulnerabilities, including links to the downloads for the necessary hotfixes, please refer to the following document:
Patch summary for Security Advisories VX05-001, VX05-002, VX05-003, VX05-005, VX05-006, VX05-007

http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/277429.htm

Note : If we do not receive your reply within two business days, this post would be marked ‘assumed answered’ and would be moved to ‘answered questions’ pool.

Regards.

[Frank_Workman]

Priya,

Thanks for your reply. Note that I am currently using the Exchange Agent to do backup via BE - I'm only planning to use a flat file backup as an additional, alternate backup.

>> The steps for flat file backup for Exchange 2003 will be more or less similar to the document mentioned. <<

You say "more or less similar". Does this mean there *are* differences? If so, what are they?


Thanks,
Frank

[Chaitanya_Khurj]

Hello Frank,

Thankyou for your post.

A flat file backup necessarily means that the Exchange Database is shut down, which means that all Exchange related services should be stopped.

The names of the services might vary slightly in Exchange 2000 and 2003.

You should also refer to the following technote and disable active file exclusion in order to be able to perform a flat backup in totality.

How to disable the Active File Exclusion feature in Backup Exec for Windows Servers

http://support.veritas.com/docs/259152

NOTE : If we do not receive your reply within two business days, this post would be marked ‘assumed answered’ and would be moved to ‘answered questions’ pool.

Additional Information :
For information on the recent VERITAS Backup Exec security vulnerabilities, including links to the downloads for the necessary hotfixes, please refer to the following document:
Patch summary for Security Advisories VX05-001, VX05-002, VX05-003, VX05-005, VX05-006, VX05-007

http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/277429.htm

[Frank_Workman]

Chaitanya,

Thank you for your help - especially the tip about active file exclusion. However, this prompts another question - if I've shut down all Exchange services prior to the flat file backup, then why do I have to worry about Exchange files still being open?


Frank

[Amruta_Purandar]

Hello,

As mentioned in the technote, Backup Exec (tm) (version 9.0 and later) uses the Active File Exclusion feature to eliminate the Microsoft Exchange Server, the SQL Server, the SharePoint Portal Server, and the Lotus Notes/Domino flat-files from the file system backup. This will prevent "in use - skipped" errors on the .EDB, the .STM, and the .LOG files.

We hope this answers your queries.


Additional Information :
For information on the recent VERITAS Backup Exec security vulnerabilities, including links to the downloads for the necessary hotfixes, please refer to the following document:
Patch summary for Security Advisories VX05-001, VX05-002, VX05-003, VX05-005, VX05-006, VX05-007

http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/277429.htm

NOTE : If we do not receive your reply within two business days, this post would be marked assumed answered and would be moved to answered questions pool.