Snapshot and offhost backups with the Exchange Agent

Last published : Apr 02, 2026
The Exchange Agent supports the Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), a snapshot provider service. Using VSS, a point-in-time view of the Exchange database is snapped and then backed up, leaving the actual Exchange database open and available for users.
Offhost backup enables the backup operation to be processed on a Backup Exec server instead of on the Exchange Server. Moving the backup from the Exchange Server to a Backup Exec server enables better backup performance and frees the remote computer as well.
If the Advanced Disk-based Backup feature (ADBO) is installed on the Backup Exec server, you can use the Backup Exec Granular Recovery Technology (GRT) feature when you create an offhost backup for the Information Store.
See Setting default Granular Recovery Technology (GRT) options.
This topic includes information on the following subjects:
The Exchange Agent snapshot does not support the following:
  • NAS configurations
  • Mixing snapshot backups and non-snapshot backups
Due to a Microsoft Exchange limitation, if non-snapshot backups are run as part of a backup strategy, then snapshot backups should not be run. If snapshot backups are run, non-snapshot backups should not be done.
You can find a list of compatible storage in the Backup Exec Hardware Compatibility List.
The type of backup method that is available when using VSS with the Exchange Agent depends on the version of Exchange Server:
Table: Available backup methods for Exchange snapshot versions
Exchange version Available backup methods
Exchange Server The following backup methods are available\:
- Full
- Copy
- Differential
- Incremental snapshot backup
- Individual database restore
Configuring a snapshot backup for Exchange data
You can run a snapshot backup for Exchange data.

Table: Configuring a snapshot backup for Exchange data

Step Action
Step 1 It is recommended that you perform consistency checks before running a snapshot backup.
See Backing up Exchange data .
Step 2 Create an Exchange backup job.
See Backing up Exchange data .
Step 3 If data that is not supported for snapshot backup is included in the backup selections, check Process logical volumes for backup one at a time to allow the job to complete with errors.
This option is on the Advanced Disk-based
Backup options on the Backup Job Defaults
dialog box and on the Options dialog box for
a backup job.
Step 4 Schedule or start the backup job.
Troubleshooting Exchange Agent snapshot and offhost jobs
An Exchange Agent snapshot job fails on the following conditions:
  • The Exchange Agent snapshot fails.
  • If circular logging is enabled, and incremental or differential backup methods are selected.
  • If an unsupported version of Exchange is installed. To verify supported versions of Exchange, refer to the Backup Exec Software Compatibility List.
More Information
Backing up data