How would I restore my exchange 5.5 server?

[groovin]

Hi, there have not been any major updates done to our exchange 5.5 server in some time. I want to run the latest 5.5 service pack (sp4) on it as well as any other critical updates for the server. I am concerned with any of these updates clobbering the server. So before I do any of these, I just wanted to make sure I can do a proper restore. I have brightstor arcserve 9 and the exchange backup agent.

Since I am running updates which affect the entire system and not just the exchange db or mail stores, I am thinking that I would have to restore the entire server. However I am not sure if it's as simple as opening up the restore mananger > browse by tree/session > and checking off everything I see for the exchange server.

In the restore tree, should I see the information store and directory in the restore by tree view? I can only see them in the restore by session view.

Can anyone outline how I would go about restoring my server in the event that an update goes wild?

Thank you!

 

[GSC]

Hi,
Do you have the DR Agent installed on your server?
If yes then you can use that as a rollback procedure if your update should go wild!

If you want to have a complete backup of your exchange you should do it in "Offline" mode. That means that you should stop all your exchange agents when doing the backup.
In this way you don't miss any incomming emails and also your logfiles won't be messed up if you have to do a restore.

Hope it helps.

GSC

Common sence is not so common anymore

 

[groovin]

GSC, thank you for the reply.

I dont know if DR was installed on this server. If I do not, would the previously mentioned method work?

Thanks again!

 

[lmoe]

For a secondary backup -- you can also download exmerge from Microsoft. This will let you backup multiple mailboxes at one time.

Finally...shut down the Exchange services and backup the priv.edb (is that the correct name). This CAN be pulled back into Exchange 5.5, if necessary.

LMC
IT/MIS
"Never stop learning.