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Backing up Exchange with NT backup.

I have a question that should have a fairly simple answer. I am finding when backing up a 2003 server with ntbackup (or using 2003 sbs backup) the exchange store is not backed up where I believe it should be.

When I try a restore, there is nothing backed up under MYSERVER\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group in either the mailbox store or the public folders.

Instead, I can find my stores backup up in the file system (in c:\Program files\exchsrvr\MDBDATA - I have both priv1 and pub1 .stm and .edb files). This reassures me that they are at least being backed up... But when I try to restore from here, I cannot remount the store afterwards, because it complains of inconsistancies in the database. I'm sure this is because I am performing a simple file restore and not an exchange restore from ntbackup, but how do I do a proper exchange restore when there is nothing backed up in exchange???

I have had a look in the knowledge base to no avail, but I'm sure I'm missing something simple. Can anyone help?

Irwin Santos

The "plane jain" NT backup is not made for Exchange. You may want to invest in http://www.acronis.com

You "could" attempt shutting down all MS Exchange services, then backup.

lukerussell

ASKER

I know it's not the best - but it does have the ability to backup exchange, doesn't it? otherwise why does it have the option? I also thought Volume shadow copy is supposed to prevent the need to stop services...

amaheshwari

Please check this step by step backup procedure thriugh ntbackup:

How do I backup my Exchange 2000/2003 server?
http://www.petri.co.il/backup_exchange_2000_2003_with_ntbackup.htm

Thanks
Ashish

amaheshwari

for Restore:

How do I restore my Exchange 2000/2003 server?
http://www.petri.co.il/restore_exchange_2000_2003_with_ntbackup.htm

thanks
Ashish

lukerussell

ASKER

Yeah - I've seen these articles and that's why I'm sure something is up. When I try to perform a restore, there is nothin in the backup of the store - the exchange databases are being backed up in the file system. When you perform a restore of exchange, you are given different options (the ones shown in these articles) and I'm not given these options when i try to restore the individual store files - it's doing a simple file resotre which stuffs up exchange.

When I do the backup, I'm backing up the whole system, including the exchange store...

LeeDerbyshire

Does the backup log say that the IS was backed up successfully?

lukerussell

ASKER

yeah - no errors at all. Heres a post of the sbs backup log:

30/05/2006 11:30 PM
-------------------------------
Date: 30/05/2006
Time: 11:30 PM
User: SYSTEM
-------------------------------

Backup Runner started.
Launching NTBackup: ntbackup.exe backup "@D:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows Small Business Server\Backup\Small Business Backup Script.bks" /d "SBS Backup created on 30/05/2006 at 11:30 PM" /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hc:off /m normal /j "Small Business Server Backup Job" /l:s /f "C:\Backup Files\Small Business Server Backup (01).bkf" /UM
NTBACKUP LOG FILE: D:\Documents and Settings\SBS Backup User\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\backup04.log
=====================<BEGIN NTBACKUP LOG FILE>=====================
Backup Status
Operation: Backup
Active backup destination: File
Media name: "Small Business Server Backup (01).bkf created 30/05/2006 at 11:30 PM"

Volume shadow copy creation: Attempt 1.
Backup (via shadow copy) of "D: "
Backup set #1 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 30/05/2006 at 11:30 PM"
Media name: "Small Business Server Backup (01).bkf created 30/05/2006 at 11:30 PM"

Backup Type: Normal

Backup started on 30/05/2006 at 11:34 PM.
Backup completed on 31/05/2006 at 12:25 AM.
Directories: 10797
Files: 94404
Bytes: 23,282,316,512
Time: 50 minutes and 4 seconds
Backup of "ALTITUDE-SERVER\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group"
Backup set #2 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 30/05/2006 at 11:30 PM"
Media name: "Small Business Server Backup (01).bkf created 30/05/2006 at 11:30 PM"

Backup Type: Normal

Backup started on 31/05/2006 at 12:25 AM.
Backup completed on 31/05/2006 at 12:28 AM.
Directories: 4
Files: 5
Bytes: 2,597,430,062
Time: 3 minutes and 0 seconds
Backup (via shadow copy) of "System State"
Backup set #3 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 30/05/2006 at 11:30 PM"
Media name: "Small Business Server Backup (01).bkf created 30/05/2006 at 11:30 PM"

Backup Type: Copy

Backup started on 31/05/2006 at 12:28 AM.
Backup completed on 31/05/2006 at 12:30 AM.
Directories: 252
Files: 2783
Bytes: 590,872,841
Time: 1 minute and 59 seconds

----------------------

Verify Status
Operation: Verify After Backup
Active backup destination: File
Active backup destination: C:\Backup Files\Small Business Server Backup (01).bkf

Verify of "D:"
Backup set #1 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 30/05/2006 at 11:30 PM"
Verify started on 31/05/2006 at 12:30 AM.
Verify completed on 31/05/2006 at 12:40 AM.
Directories: 10797
Files: 94404
Different: 0
Bytes: 23,282,316,512
Time: 10 minutes and 10 seconds

Verify of "ALTITUDE-SERVER\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group"
Backup set #2 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 30/05/2006 at 11:30 PM"
Verify started on 31/05/2006 at 12:40 AM.
Verify completed on 31/05/2006 at 12:41 AM.
Directories: 4
Files: 0
Different: 0
Bytes: 2,597,430,062
Time: 1 minute and 23 seconds

Verify of "System State"
Backup set #3 on media #1
Backup description: "SBS Backup created on 30/05/2006 at 11:30 PM"
Verify started on 31/05/2006 at 12:41 AM.
Verify completed on 31/05/2006 at 12:42 AM.
Directories: 252
Files: 2783
Different: 0
Bytes: 590,872,841
Time: 19 seconds

----------------------

=======================<END NTBACKUP LOG FILE>=====================
NTBackup finished the backup with no errors.
Backup ended at Wednesday, 31 May 2006 12:42 AM
Backup Runner finis

lukerussell

ASKER

it says its backed up - it even says the number of bytes - but when i look in the backup set - nada!

lukerussell

ASKER

I think i'll bump up the points - thought it was just something simple, but maybe not..

LeeDerbyshire

Okay, so when you then go to the Restore page, and select the .bkf file you created, you should see something like this:

- File
- Small Business Server Backup (01).bkf created 31 May 2006 12:42 AM
- ALTITUDE-SERVER\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group
[] Log Files
[] Mailbox Store
[] Public Folder Store

Do you see any of this? If you click on Log Files, Mailbox Store or Public Folder Store, you see 'No entries found' in the right-hand pane - this is because you can't restore individual items at a lower level than this.

lukerussell

ASKER

ok - yes i see exactly that! So it's normal that I see "No entries Found"? How confusing! Is it still possible for me to back up individual items - like the public folders store for instance?

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LeeDerbyshire

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lukerussell

ASKER

LeeDerbyshire - you are a master. Thank you. I knew it would be something simple. just not simple enough to work out on my lonesome ;-)