What Backup Exec Files Are Needed To Rebuild Backup Exec?

[Thundercleese]

Where I work we still have Backup Exec configured with SQL 2005 Express.  Meaning the database is on the same computer as the Backup Exec software (something we're working on fixing).

1. Previously someone on the forums here noted that the only files you would need to backup are: BEDB.bak, bedb_dat.bak, and bedb_log.bak (in C:\Program Files\Symantec\Backup Exec\Data).  And that one could rebuild Backup Exec off these files is that correct?
2. I heard from another person that I need to backup everything in the folders not just the .bak files: Catalog & Data (C:\Program Files\Symantec\Backup Exec\) is this true?
3. Example time, let's say your Backup Exec server died, and you just noticed you didn't have a backup of any Backup Exec files.  Would there still be a way to recover the data that was written to the tape drives, or are you up the creek without a paddle?

[Ken_Putnam]

The BEDB.BAk holds all the info about your tape/B2D volumes, jobs, schedules, select lists etc, so you definitely need this

You also need the catalog directory, or you will need to inventory and catalog any tape you want to restore from  a rather laborious process if you have a large number of tapes

and the log files are nice to have, but not essential.


http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/319367.htm  contains  directions to re-install Backup Exec, but if you have backups/saved copies of all the stuff they say to move to a temp storage location, you should be good to go

[Dev_T]

I would you to stop all the BE services and the SQL service for BE and copy the DATA and the CATALOGS folders on a safe location.


It will be very easy to rebuild Backup Exec from scratch if we have these 2 folders. If you have the BEDB.bak, bedb_dat.bak, and bedb_log.bak  files only, the process is quiet complicated and time consuming.

Process of rebuilding Backup Exec with DATA and CATALOGS folders:
1  : Install Backup Exec and patch it  up.
2  : Stop all the BE services and the SQL service for BE.
3  : Rename the DATA and the CATALOGS folder to _OLD
4  : Copy the DATA and the CATALOGS folders which we had copied earlier on the same location
      (C:\Program files\Symantec\Backup Exec)
5  : Start the SQL Service first and then start the remaining BE services.

Hopt this helps !!!

[Thundercleese]

Thanks for the feedback guys, follow up question.  Is it possible to restore the data from tapes if you didn't have any of those .BAK files or the Catalog folder backed up?

[Ken_Putnam · Accepted solution]

Is it possible to restore the data from tapes if you didn't have any of those .BAK files or the Catalog folder backed up?

insert tape
inventory
catalog
restore

[Thundercleese]

Didn't realize it was still that easy if you lost your Backup Exec server ,and had no Symantec files backed up.  Good to know you can still get the data off the tapes, even with the DB dead. :)