Any way to force Exchange Agent to do a full backup?

[retep37]

I am wondering if anyone knows of a way to force the Exchange Backup Agent to perform a full backup nightly instead of the diff backups I get when running my rotation scheme? I am aware of a method to do this with ArcServe 2000 (see below), however it does not appear to apply to the newer Exchange Agent and ArcServe v9. I think it would be nice for my Exchange to always get a full backup regardless of what I have setup for a rotation scheme. The less desirable alternative is to setup a separate job just for the Exchange backup. Anyone seen a reghack similar to the one for ArcServe 2000 for telling the Exchange Agent to always perform a "full"?



Here is the info on the method to accomplish this under ArcServe 2000:

PROBLEM: E8602 EC=301 HrBackupPrepare failed. Exchange full backup in incrumental or differential backuo rotation. Circular logging is enabled on the Exchange svr. It appears that the Global Rotation rules override the agents's rules, and force an incrumental or differential backup of Exchange, which will generate this error when Circular logging is enabled. Client had applied ArcerveIT SP1 and successfully updated the Exchange Agent component. But the error still occurred.

RESOLUTION: Use Regedt32 and do the following:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ComputerAssociates\ArcserveIT\Base\Task
Create the following key under the "Task" key: "DSFullBackup" The Class can be left blank.
Under \DSFullBackup add the Value: ExchangeFullBackup:REG_DWORD:0x1

Once these changes have been made, ARCerveIT will always do a full backup of Exchange, regardless of the global Options for the rotation scheme.

 

[ACiDelic]

The same fix should still work in ARCserve 9. However, the key will be under "BrightStor ARCserve Backup", not "ARCserveIT".

 

[retep37]

I did not mention it in my original post, but I have tried the ArcServe 2000 fix without success. Like you mention it is "BrightStor ArcServe Backup" instead of "ArcServeIT", however it was after this that I was unsure of what to do exactly because there were no "base" or "task" keys. So in my attempt I created 3 keys: base, task, and dsfullbackup, followed by the "exchangefullbackup" as well. This did not produce the desired effect. Any further ideas on how to hack this?

 

[ACiDelic]

The registry changes are to be made on the BAB server machine. Where you have the server installed you should see the Base and Task keys in the registry; these don't exist on the agent side. Also, make sure that you are looking under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

 

[retep37]

So, I was making the changes in the registry on the Exchange box which is incorrect...I will try the hack on the server running ArcServe v9 and see what results I get this evening. Thanks.

 

[retep37]

I have found the correct location in the registry to make this change, however ArcServe v9 still does NOT perform a full backup of Exchange every evening. Instead it continues to do diffs of Exchange on weekdays as my rotation scheme would indicate. Of course it does do a full backup on Friday, again, as my rotation scheme indicates. Has anyone been successful in forcing a full backup of Exchange with ArcServe v9 without creating a separate job?

The reason I am trying to do this is because with SDLT tapes and the size of other data that I am backing up by diff on weekdays, there still plenty of room for a full backup of Exchange. Why get diffs of Exchange if I can have a full every time...

 

[bettyb]

I have this same issue with Brightstor9 and Exchange 5.5. Computer Associates tells me the key should work. But it doesn't. The brick level backups appear to be full BUT the backup of the Directory Store and the Information - - get the error 301. I am continuing to work with CA and other avenues and will share whatever I find.