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Exchange Backups

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by jmoody76

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We are running Exchange 5.5 on Windows NT 4.0. We are backing up this server using Veritas Backup Exec but we did not realize that it was not backing up the Exchange databases until we needed to restore a mailbox and could not. We are using an older version of Veritas and can not just buy the Exchange agent. We have to upgrade the backup software and then buy the Exchange agent and it is over $1000. We can't spend that much right now but also need to backup our email. I think we can stop the Exchange service and get a backup that way but that is not a very good option and I am not completely sure that this will work. Does anybody know of other backup software that is less expensive and reliable or any other options that will work? Thanks.

5 replies

by brian

You say that you can't restore a single mailbox. Veritas does a backup of the full database and also has the option to do a back-up of the individual mailboxes and messages. I have seen these refered to as a full database backup and a "Brick Level Backup". The "Brick Level Backup" is what you seem to be interested in. I have read that this is not a good thing to be doing. Instead of using it use the records retention feature to allow deleted items to be retained for 30 days on the server. If someone accidentally deletes something, it can be retrieved.

The database backup will protect you in the event of a full system crash.

I am relaying to you what I read as advice from a Veritas employee on their Website newsgroup. This post actually suggested that you not use the brick level backup because it can corrupt the database.

I hope this helps.

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