Exchange 2003 & BackupExec 9.1

[efector]

I see there is no quick way to backup exchange. One thing we do with our SQL servers that makes our backups quicker, is that we backup our databases to a file(using the NT Backup), and then have backupexec back up that file. While it may seem like a long process to go thru, its actually much quicker than having the backup server pull it over the network directly from the information store. Does anyone else do this? Also, can you catalog the backups in NT backup the way you do with BE?

 

[stevet3]

How big is your IS? Are you backing up mailboxes with BE?

You can cataglo the NTBACKUP bkf files. Just create a backup to disk folder and drop the ntbackup file in it and inventory/catalog. Althought this only provided a method to restore the whole IS.

 

[efector]

The IS is about 16GB....my people think its a file server instead. The problem is that i have a file server, has the tape library connected directly to it, and it takes that backup around 7 hours to run, so i am afraid if i try and back up the IS over the network, it will take forever to run. I was figuring it would be quicker to dump the IS to file and then back up the file.

 

[stevet3]

IS backup of 16gb shouldnt be bad. Still have to backup the dump file or copy it over to you file server.
Have you tried a IS backup with the exchange agent?

 

[bengbrewer3]

Could someone explain Exchange 2003 and Backup exec 9.1 to me? Does the tape drive have to be on the exchange server or can you back it up remotely? We bought the exchange agent and added that key to the server with the tape drive and backup exec 9.1, but I dont see exchange 2003 as a selection remotely. Is it possible to backup exchange 2003 remotely or am I doing something wrong? Help! Thanks

 

[jblewis]

I think you would need a copy of the Remote Agent as well...

There are some ethernet tweaks you can do to optimize the effort: For all the NICs and switch ports along the path between your backup server and the host you are backing up, set the speed to 100 (Or 1000 if you have gigabit) and Duplex to Full.

 

[mikevm]

Thats right, You need to install the remote agent on the Exchange 2003 Server. Then it will show-up in your selections on the backup server