Exchange Backups

[bobbytupper]

I have experienced total outages with exchange which isn't funny, not even slightly.

We are looking at our systems at the minute and have come to exchange. We have a redundant server comprised of identical hardware.

We currently take a backup of the system as follows;

Full exchange mailstore backup
System state
Exchange binaries and program files (C: drive)

Our exchange database is now quite large and a full backup every day spans 2x40/80 DLT tapes.

I am going to put into a report that we need a more suitable back up solution based on the fact that it is not recommended that exchange is to be backed up incrementally.

This is what I have been told on numerous occasions and basically the question I am asking, should you back up exchange incrementally and if yes has anyone ever successfully restored a system under these circumstance as I dont want to find myself in a situation where I have a server that is dead and a back up that is as much use as t*ts on a bull.

Thanks,

James

 

[Evilbart]

i should go for a more high-end backup solution like SDLT or LTO (i prefer LTO)
preferably a library ;-) . I know about budget problems but calculate the costs of downtime according to investments that have to be done isn't that easy.

incremental backups are a real pain in the *ss . Tapes got lost or are not recognized when you need them. Been there, done that...

if possible take full backups every day (if your schedule allows you too...)

/Bart