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Exchange stream-based and Snapshot backup methods

AlGon
Level 6

Netbackup 7.1.0.1 Windows 2003

Hi everyone,

I was just watching some of the Exchange server Netbackup videos and I have a query around these two backup methods.

http://www.symantec.com/tv/products/details.jsp?vid=754387808001&subcategory=netbackup

Can someone please explain the difference between an Exchange stream-based backup and an Exchange snapshot-based backup?

Cheers,

Al

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions

AAlmroth
Level 6
Partner Accredited

Well, stream backup utilize the BEDS API into Exchange API for receiving a stream of data for the Information Store. This methods works fine for most installations. This does however put some load on the Exchange server instance.

Snapshot: First, snapshot backup is the only method for Exchange 2010. Snapshots can be useful if you have a large Exchange server, a,nd/or want to offload the data move by doing off-host backup.

NBU will initiate a snapshot of the Exchange Information Store, and Exchange will by using its VSS Writer, make sure the data is quisced and consistent. NBU will then make a file backup of the files in the snapshot. Once finished, NBU can release the snapshot. If you want to do off-host backup, you would need to either use Storage Foundation for Windows, and use mirroring to break off one mirror during backup, or use a VSS hardware provider, so that the SAN disk system takes care of the snapshot. Once the mirror/snapshot is ready, the volume is presented to the NBU media server, which then makes a file backup of the files.

/A

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1 REPLY 1

AAlmroth
Level 6
Partner Accredited

Well, stream backup utilize the BEDS API into Exchange API for receiving a stream of data for the Information Store. This methods works fine for most installations. This does however put some load on the Exchange server instance.

Snapshot: First, snapshot backup is the only method for Exchange 2010. Snapshots can be useful if you have a large Exchange server, a,nd/or want to offload the data move by doing off-host backup.

NBU will initiate a snapshot of the Exchange Information Store, and Exchange will by using its VSS Writer, make sure the data is quisced and consistent. NBU will then make a file backup of the files in the snapshot. Once finished, NBU can release the snapshot. If you want to do off-host backup, you would need to either use Storage Foundation for Windows, and use mirroring to break off one mirror during backup, or use a VSS hardware provider, so that the SAN disk system takes care of the snapshot. Once the mirror/snapshot is ready, the volume is presented to the NBU media server, which then makes a file backup of the files.

/A