Rich and JTF,
Thanks for your insights.
JTF,
We don't use encryption as it slows backup peformance a bit for us. Just straight backup.
Rich,
For us, we use BESR v8.x with BEFW no problem. I can guarantee that it is not BESR causing the problem as I had ran another test. This is what I've done last 2 weeks after noticing the slow backup peformance on Exchange IS after installing BEFW v11 SP2:
1.) Made a BESR image of our BEFW Server so that I can recover easily onto a spare 500GB USB HDD.
2.) Completely wiped down the computer clean slate.
3.) Installed Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition with SP2 and all the latest updates from Microsoft.
4.) Installed the latest Adaptec SCSI drivers for the SCSI adapter connecting to the LTO-2 Tape Unit.
5.) Installed Backup Exec Server v11 7170 with SP1 ONLY (and not SP2 and so on).
6.) I then installed BESR v8.x to make another image of it so it is easier for me to switch between images later on.
7.) Uninstalled the BESW Remote Agents on our Exchange and restarted the servers on each two nodes to have it clean slate. We have our Exchange on our backend on cluster. So the procedure is very straightforward. (Symantec Technician, please don't tell me it does not work on cluster as it has always worked since v10.x.)
8.) Push installed BE Remote Agent from BEFW Server to Exchange active node then did a cluster failover to the other node push installed the BE Rmote Agent on that node as well.
9.) Did a full backp test on the Exchange IS Only during after business hours and weekends.
Guess what? It was averaging 950mb/min to 1250mb/min over gigalan with unmanaged gigaswitch and each switches are interconnected with fibre rated for 4GB/sec.
During those tests, I've printed encyclopedias of backup logs for proof and comparison.
Nex step, I've made another BESR Image (BEFORE_SP2) of this rebuilt BE Server prior to installing SP2. After installing SP2, I've installed the hotfixes up to 41 and uninstalled the BE Remote Agent on the Exchange and rebooted the Exchange.
Did a push installed from BEFW (with SP2 and hotfixes up to 41).
Ran another full backup test on the Exchange IS only on after business hours and weekends again.
Guess what? It was slooooooow. It was ridiculously slow. I've printed out the logs and compared it to the logs prior to installing SP2 and hotfixes up to 41. From 950mb/min ~ 1250mb/min down to 50mb/min ~ 200mb/min.
I've made another BESR image of this server one more time (AFTER_SP2). Just so I can slap on the image later for comparison.
I did a BESR Recovery of the image with BEFW with SP1 (BEFORE_SP2). Uninstalled the Remote Agents on the Exchange and rebooted them, then did a push install of the Remote Agent. Ran another Full backup test on the Exchange IS only. I was doing this after hours...as in 2 am!!! As I would suspect, the backup was excellent. It averaged 1125 mb/min.
As you can see...all these tests and the BESR Images I have just shows proof... there IS a problem after installing SP2 and later hotfixes. The logs don't friggin lie. It's the same goddamn tape backup drive, cable and adapter since BE v10.x. It is the same host computer so it is not the hardware. I am tired of hearing Symantec Technician blaming it is the hardware or the switches or during high peak traffic time and so on.
It was a long 2 weeks of testing and really a waste of our company resources when we know the problem is obvious with Symantec. We have BESR images of BEFORE and AFTER installing SP2. The backup results on in those logs don't lie.
Again, it is not the hardware issue as it was ruled out. Not the peak hours as the full backup tests were done in graveyard hours and at the expense of my time away from a good sleep and family. Yes, I am getting a little annoyed by all this because the Symantec Technician would tell me the same answer I had originally called in about this..."no issue"...well, I have images BE Server of BEFORE and AFTER installing SP 2.