Backing up Exchange data
To back up Exchange data, you can select the following:
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Individual databases (Exchange 2010 or later only)
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Database availability groups (DAG)
You must enter an Exchange Agent license on the Backup Exec server for each Exchange Server in the DAG that you want to back up. You must then install the Agent for Windows on all the servers in the DAG.
Each database in the DAG must be backed up through the DAG container that displays in the list of servers on the Backup and Restore tab. The DAG container displays an Exchange logo on the server.
Note: If you add Exchange databases after you create a backup job, you must edit the backup job to include the new selections.
You can set backup job default options for all Exchange backup jobs. Each time you create a backup job, the job uses the default options unless you change the options for that particular job.
Automatic exclusion of Exchange data during volume-level backups
If you select a volume that contains Exchange data for backup, the Exchange Agent uses Active File Exclusion to automatically exclude Exchange data that should not be included in a volume-level backup. For example, .EDB and .STM files, as well as transaction log files, should not be part of a volume-level backup because they are opened for exclusive use by Exchange.
Without this exclusion, these files appear as in use - skipped during a non-snapshot backup. During a snapshot backup, these files may be backed up in an inconsistent state, which could create restore issues.
While it is not recommended, if you want to include Exchange data in a volume-level backup, you must first dismount the databases that you want backed up, and then run the backup job.
To back up Exchange data
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On the Backup and Restore tab, right-click the server that contains the Exchange data that you want to back up.
To back up multiple servers, Shift + click or Ctrl + click the server names, and then right-click one of the selected servers.
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Select Backup , and then select the type of backup that you want to perform.
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On the Backup Definition Properties dialog box, in the Selections box, click Edit.
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On the Backup Selections dialog box, check the resources that you want to back up and uncheck the resources that you do not want to back up.
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Click OK.
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On the Backup Definition Properties dialog box, in the Backup box, click Edit.
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On the Backup Options dialog box, in the left pane, click Schedule , and then select the schedule for this job.
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On the Backup Options dialog box, in the left pane, click Storage , and then select a storage device for this job.
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On the Backup Options dialog box, in the left pane, select Microsoft Exchange.
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Set any of the following options for this job:
Perform a consistency check before the backup when using Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) snapshot provider Select this option to run a consistency check when the Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service option is selected. The option Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service is automatically used whenever a software backup is selected on the Advanced Disk-based Backup properties. You can also select the Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service on the Advanced Open File backup properties. The consistency check, which is run on the snapshot, determines if possible data corruption exists. If this option is selected, and the dependent option Continue with backup if consistency check fails is not selected , then data for specific Exchange objects that are determined to be corrupt are not backed up. All other non-corrupt Exchange objects are backed up. For example, if a specific Exchange database file is corrupt, then backup is skipped only for that corrupt database file. All other non-corrupt database files and transaction log files are backed up. When the option Continue with backup if consistency check fails is enabled, then all Exchange data is backed up regardless if corrupt files exist. See Snapshot and offhost backups with the Exchange Agent . Continue with the backup if consistency check fails Select this option to continue the backup job even if the consistency check fails. You may want the job to continue if you think a backup of the database in its current state is better than no backup at all, or if you are backing up a very large database that may have only a small problem. Exchange in a Database Availability Group Specify one of the following backup sources for Exchange\: - Back up from the passive copy and if not available, try the active copy (recommended) Lets you back up a passive copy of the database by default. For Exchange 2010 or later, Backup Exec selects the passive copy based on your selections in the Preferred Server settings. However, if the passive copy is not available, Backup Exec backs up the active copy of the database. During the backup, database performance degradation can occur if you have to back up the database over a WAN. - Back up from the passive copy only (job fails if not available) Lets you back up a passive copy of the database. If Backup Exec cannot access the passive copy, the job fails. In this case, neither the active nor the passive database is backed up. Select this option when you do not want to affect the performance of the active copy of the database. For Exchange Server 2010 or later, Backup Exec selects the passive copy based on your selections in the Preferred Server settings. Note: You must have the preferred server settings configured to use this option. - Back up from the active copy only (job fails if not available) Lets you back up the active copy of the database. If Backup Exec cannot access the active copy, the job fails. Therefore, neither the active copy nor the passive copy is backed up. The active copy contains newer information than the passive copy. When you back up the active copy, you have a backup of the most recent database data. - Back up from the preferred server configuration only (Use the passive copy first and if not available, use the active copy. Job fails if copies are not available in the preferred server configuration.) Lets you back up from the preferred server configuration that you specify as the preferred backup source. Backup Exec selects the passive copy of the database as the backup source first. However, if the passive copy of the database is not available, Backup Exec selects the active copy as the backup source. If no copies of the database are available for backup on the configured preferred servers, the job fails. See Managing preferred server configurations for Microsoft Exchange Database Availability Groups . Preferred server configuration Specify the preferred server configuration that you want to use for the High Availability Server options. Click Change to create a new preferred server configuration or manage existing preferred server configurations. See Managing preferred server configurations for Microsoft Exchange Database Availability Groups . Backup method Specify one of the following backup methods that you want to use for this job\: - Full - Back up databases and logs (truncate logs) This option backs up the databases as well as their associated transaction log files. After the databases and transaction logs are backed up, the transaction log files are deleted if all transactions are committed to the database. - Full Copy - Back up databases and logs This option backs up the databases as well as their associated transaction log files. However, the transaction logs are not deleted after they are backed up. You can use this option to make a full backup of a database without disturbing the state of ongoing incremental or differential backups. Use Backup Exec Granular Recovery Technology (GRT) to enable the restore of individual mailboxes, mail messages, and public folders from Information Store backups Select this option to enable the restore of individual items from Information Store backups. Ensure that the backups meet the requirements for Granular Recovery Technology. Note: Veritas recommends that you do not send an incremental GRT-enabled Exchange backup to a deduplication disk storage device. The transaction logs contain primarily unique data that does not deduplicate well. For best results, create a backup definition that runs a full backup of Exchange to a deduplication disk storage device, and then runs an incremental backup to a disk storage device. See Granular Recovery Technology . See Configuring Instant GRT and full catalog options to improve backup performance for GRT-enabled jobs . Backup method Specify one of the following Exchange-specific backup methods that you want to use for this job\: - Full - Back up databases and logs (truncate logs) This option backs up the databases as well as their associated transaction log files. After the databases and transaction logs are backed up, the transaction log files are deleted if all transactions are committed to the database. - Full Copy - Back up databases and logs This option backs up the databases as well as their associated transaction log files. However, the transaction logs are not deleted after they are backed up. You can use this option to make a full backup of a database without disturbing the state of ongoing incremental or differential backups. - Differential - Back up logs This option backs up all of the transaction logs that have been created or modified since the last full backup. However, the transaction logs are not deleted after they are backed up. To restore from differential backups, the last differential backup and the last full backup are required. If circular logging is enabled, differential backups cannot be performed. - Incremental - Back up logs (truncate logs) This option backs up all of the transaction logs that have been created or modified since the last full or incremental backup, and then delete the transaction logs that have been committed to the database. To restore from incremental backups, the last full backup and all the incremental backups done since the last full backup are required. See Snapshot and offhost backups with the Exchange Agent . Use Backup Exec Granular Recovery Technology (GRT) to enable the restore of individual mailboxes, mail messages, and public folders from Information Store backups Select this option to enable the restore of individual items from Information Store backups. Ensure that the backups meet the requirements for Granular Recovery Technology. Note: Veritas recommends that you do not send an incremental GRT-enabled Exchange backup to a deduplication disk storage device. The transaction logs contain primarily unique data that does not deduplicate well. For best results, create a backup definition that runs a full backup of Exchange to a deduplication disk storage device, and then runs an incremental backup to a disk storage device. See Granular Recovery Technology . See Configuring Instant GRT and full catalog options to improve backup performance for GRT-enabled jobs . -
Set any additional options for this job.
See Backing up data.
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Click OK.
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