Exchange backup Q&A

[bofhrevenge2]

This is a statement from technet,

"Volume Shadow Copy service. Exchange Server 2003 supports the Volume Shadow Copy service implemented in Windows Server 2003. The copy service functionality gives you a nearly instantaneous backup and restore because a mirrored copy of the database exists at any time and can be used for restore processes. "

Does this allow the restore of individual mailboxes and emails or am i still better off getting the Exchange agent for my Arcserve backup?

Thanks.

 

[ntinlin]

You can use the recovery storage group to get individual messages back.

As far as I can see most backup software only works with VSS when you add the relevant open files agent. Shouldn't need an actual exchange agent now.

Neill

 

[bofhrevenge2]

Ok so your saying that i can look into a backup of a mailbox and restore an individual email without using an agent?

Thanks for the reply.

 

[ntinlin]

Sort of.

Sorry I miswrote in previous message, you can't get individual messages back without agent, just whole mailbox.

You have to restore the database and relevant log files to disk and then mount it using recovery storage group. You'd then use exmerge to extract the mailbox to a PST and give to user.

Kind of a swings and roundabouts thing really.

However you do still save a lot of tape space and time over using an XC agent which of course loses your single instance storage. Exchange agents tend to be a bit flaky as well in my experience.

 

[anawrocki]

I belive that there are VSS limitations when it comes to Public Folders as well.

My prefered solution is a standard on-line backup of the entire database and then using Power Controls from Ontrack. Works well, even if you use the Exchange Version of NTBACKUP.

 

[Marcs41]

Have a look at this too:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q258243

Marc
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