Best method to backup Exchange DAG DBs

[Karthikeyan_Sun]

1.    Our exchange servers are hosted on a VM; Currently we do backup of the passive exchange DBs from the DAG using “MS-Exchange server” policy type. We have been asked to enable GRT level backup for this backups, so that we can restore individual emails instead of restoring the entire DB. So we are looking into best options to backup this Exchange DBs with GRT. What is the best recommended way to backup this DBs with GRT?
2.    As this are hosted on VMs, we were thinking to enable VMware backups for this; so that, it can provide below mentioned advantages.
    1.    Single shot backup – 4 level recovery
        1.    VMDK – image level recovery
        2.    File level recovery
        3.    EDB file recovery
        4.    GRT level recovery
    2.    If configured, this data backups can be taken over a SAN mode which will reduce the backup window
    3.    If configured, accelerator can speed up the backups
    4.    If configured, it can truncate logs as well
 
Considering all this points, we are thinking, going with VMware level backup is the best option to backup this Exchange. Are we on a right track?

[areznik · Accepted solution]

Take a look at this post: https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/configuring-grt-based-exchange-backup-using-vmware-ba... 

[watsons · Accepted solution]

I assume you're using NBU 7.6 or above: 

Policy recommendations (based on what version of Exchange) are available in page 85~86 of http://www.symantec.com/docs/DOC8238

Then refer to this technote for GRT configuration guidance: http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO73076