Exchange 5.5 data backup

Most tape backup software will not backup open files. To backup installations such as Exchange or SQL (where database files are always in use), you must a special add-on that recognizes these programs. This add-on is known as an agent in most software packages.

In your situation, you have three choices to properly backup the IMPORTANT Exchange files:
1. Perform an offline backup (shut down the Exchange services; perform your backup; restart the Exchange services).
2. Not sure what software backup program you are using. Seagate doesn't currently sell it's own software but bundles other vendor's software with its tape drives. From the version number you give, it doesn't sound like the software that Seagate currently bundles with its drives. Contact the publisher of the software and see if they offer an Exchange Backup agent (or add-in or whatever they call it) to allow online backups of Exchange.
3. If option 2 is not possible, bite the bullet and invest in software that WILL allow you to conduct online backups. I can tell you ahead of time that this will not be an inexpensive solution.

Hope this helps.

This is normal behavior for your backup software. In order to back up these files the Exchange Agent must be installed and to avoid any skipped files. The following files should be excluded from the backup.

Exchange 5.5

priv.edb
pub.edb
edb.log
edbXXXX.log

Note : In addition there will be more files with *.EDB and *.STM extention, depending upon the number of mailbox stores and public stores on the Exchange 2000 Server.

When backing up these files make sure they are only backed up via the Exchange Agent. DO NOT select any of these files from anywhere else in Backup Exec apart from the Exchange Agent. If selections are made from anywhere else uncheck them. The selections for backup should only be made from the Exchange Agent.

Good Luck,
0bytes

Tim has it correct. These files will be skipped if you try to back them up because the are open.

With that he touched upon the agents.

While the agents are good, (i use veritas backup exec with exch agents). I do not reccomend using them to back up the IS, only mailboxes.

Here is why, there is something in databases called the checkpoint. In order for BUexec to back up the db, it must turn off the checkpoint. This is a very bad thing and can eventually lead to corruption.

The best way to back up the IS is natively thru NTBackup. (For SQL, use the db maint plan)

I Backup to disk (seperate volume/controller) and keep 2 backups available, while incrementally backing up those backups to tape.

Then do a full copy daily thru your backup program of just the mailboxes. Again, you will need the exch agent to do this.

Are you sure you are not talking about Veritas Backup Exec 7.0?

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