Exchange 2003 Recovery Groups & Veritas Backup Exec
We need to restore a copy of our Exchange 2003 server information store from about a month ago to get some emails back that were deleted. We have seen several postings about creating recovery groups... has anyone done this type of restore using Veritas Backup Exec instead of the NT Backup Utility? As far as I can tell, with Veritas Backup Exec 10, I don't have an option of restoring to an alternate storage group. We have the Exchange Agent installed, and the software is up-to-date, but I don't see any options for a recovery group. I hoping I'm just overlooking something. Any info would be appreciated.
Thank you!
Thank you!
ASKER
Yes, there is a Microsoft Exchange Re-direction page available... where I could check to "re-direct exchange sets", (I had seen that), but it only offers the option for "Restore to Server:" or "Restore to Mailbox:". Any other areas I can check?
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Follow the article above and it just does it. The first time I used the RSG I was a little sceptical, but it just restores - no redirection required.
Simon.
Simon.
ASKER
I am guessing that you're correct, but I can't try it yet because we realized that our Exchange server won't have enough room to dump a copy of the database on to it. So, can I map a drive to another server, and create the recovery group on that mapped drive? Then, when I restore, I would still pick my Exchange server to restore to, but the location of the files for the recovery group would be on a server with more room. Any idea if that will work?
A mapped drive will not be quick enough and I don't think it will let you.
You need to increase the space available to Exchange, or build another machine to install Exchange on to.
Simon.
You need to increase the space available to Exchange, or build another machine to install Exchange on to.
Simon.
Exchange does not allow databases on mapped drives... it has to be local to the server, or at least on some SAN.. If your space is tight due to logs, maybe you could relocate these temporarily.
But if the space is primarily taken by gthe store(s), the only other idea would be to add an extra drive locally on the server. Depending on existing hardware, you may be able to use an existing bay, or even an IDE drive, perhaps get by with an external USB drive. You may need to install drivers and perhaps reboot, but it would get you moving forward.
Let us know how it goes...
But if the space is primarily taken by gthe store(s), the only other idea would be to add an extra drive locally on the server. Depending on existing hardware, you may be able to use an existing bay, or even an IDE drive, perhaps get by with an external USB drive. You may need to install drivers and perhaps reboot, but it would get you moving forward.
Let us know how it goes...
ASKER
Have additional storage attached. Will give it a go tomorrow evening. Just curious, when we tried it on the same drive as the information store is on, it crushed the performance of the server. The additional storage is now on a seperate RAID, how do you think performance of the server would be affected? I'd like to give it a try now, but if performance would take a serious hit, I'll just wait. Thanks.
The mere creation of a Recovery Storage group and selection of a database should not impact the performance even when you do that on the same drive, unless you are really short on space... Besides, the mailbox store in RSG will not be mounted in the beginning anyway...
When you start the restore process, there will definitely be an impact on the server, and having both stores on the same drive can only worsen it. A separate volume, on a separate RAID will no doubt be helpful, but I am thinking perhaps you have other bottlenecks in the system, such as processing power, memory...
Also, if you have a high-throughput tape system, and/or a large database to restore, the disk activity can become at time overwhelming.
It is best to do the actual restore after hours. Afterwards, manipulations of the mailboxes in the RSG should not impact the server.
When you start the restore process, there will definitely be an impact on the server, and having both stores on the same drive can only worsen it. A separate volume, on a separate RAID will no doubt be helpful, but I am thinking perhaps you have other bottlenecks in the system, such as processing power, memory...
Also, if you have a high-throughput tape system, and/or a large database to restore, the disk activity can become at time overwhelming.
It is best to do the actual restore after hours. Afterwards, manipulations of the mailboxes in the RSG should not impact the server.
If you cannot find it, I can look for it...