Cannot configure Exchange backup agent

[YodaMaster]

Hi,

We have a new Exchange-server and now we would like to backup our mail on the brick-level. On the Exchange server (which is a domain controller, too), in Exchange Agent Configuration, I gave 6074 as port, and 1 as no. of 64-KB blocks. Then I checked the checkbox to configure an account for brick-level backup. On the following screen, I gave a new account's data, filled all information, and checked the "Create a new account" checkbox. Then I clicked Finish, and Yes to confirm creating account with admin rights. After this, I got a new window telling me that "The verification of the new account failed. Please refer to the C:\Program Files\CA\BrightStor ArcServe Backup Agent for Exchange\DBAEXCUserSummary.log for detail information. If active directory replication is a factor, in multi-domain controller environments, please try to create the same user account, with the same information, in 5 to 30+ minutes."

I waited for hours, and I tried to create this account again and again (actually, I checked and it was created for the first time), but the same thing happened. We have more domain controllers, but I think this is not a "factor" - AFAIK if a new user has been created, the user will be replicated immediately to the other DC's. Anyway, it will be authenticated on that server, because that's the Exchange server, too.

So now I really don't understand what happened.

I can attach the logfile if it's needed.

The backup server is W2K, BrightStor is v11.0 build 2670, the Exchange server is W2K3 enterprise with Exchange 2003 Server (and it's a DC).

Thanks in advance for your tips,

Yoda

 

[joserojo]

I personally do not like the Brick Level option, it continually fails, it is slow, and it generates huge backup tapes, I prefer the NTBACKUP for backing up exchange, and use the "Restore Storage Group" option that comes with Exchange 2003 for restoring purposes... here is the trick, create a scheduled job for backing up exchange in NTBACKUP, backing up the data in a mapped drive on another server, and then backup those files to tape through Brighstor, one benefit is that you will have two copies of the exchange database, one in the mapped drive and one in the tape, in case you need to restore, you can perform the restore from the mapped drive, which is way faster than from tape.. here is the microsoft link ..

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2003/library/ue2k3rsg.mspx

I hope this helps, I know it looks a little bit complicated, but I do not really trust the Exchange agent for backing up the Exchange data, it fails, it takes CPU time, and it is just plain unstable...

 

[YodaMaster]

joserojo,

Thanks for your response and thanks for the link.

Does it mean that I will be able to restore individual mailboxes with this? Oh, I read the article Sorry Laziness

So, for disaster recovery cases, I will still need database-level backup from the Primary Storage Group, won't I?

Yoda