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Question on GRT for backup Exchange Server in Backup Exec 2010

To allow restoring of individual mail, I have selected the GRT option.

Do I need to backup the data into a disk folder first and then backup it to a tape ? Can I simply backup the Exchange data directly onto tape ? Will the performance be really slow ?

To restore an indivdual mailbox, can I restore the mailbox directly from tape, or I need to restore data to the backup folder first and then select the mailbox from the disk folder ?

Please advise .

Tkx
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you can backup to tape and restore directly from the tape, but performance will be slower and it depends on how fast are your tape drives.
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So, I should restore the data to the folder disk first. Afterwards, inventory and catalog the folder disk and then restore the mailbox from there, correct ?

Tkx
to do that you will need to backup the BKF files. I would say that restoring from the tape will be faster than restoring to disk, inventory and then restore.
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I can't get your idea.

"you can backup to tape and restore directly from the tape, but performance will be slower"

So, for backup and restore, what's the best way ? Directly backup/restore to tape, or go through a diskfolder first and then backup the disk folder to tape ? But how to restore the mailbox for the 2nd case ?

Thank again.
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I have created  a Duplicate Backup Sets Job to backup the disk folder to tape. How do I restore the tape to the disk folder ? Do I also use the Duplicate Backup Set to select the tape and restore it to disk folder ?

Do do I archive the backup files in disk folder ? Can I restrict its size to 1Tb and recycle the space ?

Tkx
Hi AXISHK,

Please find your answers.

Q.1: Do I need to backup the data into a disk folder first and then backup it to a tape ?
Ans : No need to backup the data in B2D folder first and then backup to Tape; untill, if you dont't wann duplicate copies.

Q.2: Can I simply backup the Exchange data directly onto tape ? Will the performance be really slow ?
Ans : There is no problem to backup directly onto the tape. Yes, Tape performance is slower than Disk for restoration.



HOW GRT WORKS..............

Restore from Backup to Disk of Exchange granular mailbox, or public folder, data with GRT enabled:

1. Restore selection data is generated dynamically from IMG backup of Exchange database
2. BE uses the VFF with ESE to generate restore selections
3. VFF puts hard links to .edb and .stm files in vdb_date_xxxx folder
4. Restore job extracts data from IMG folders using VFF/ESE and feeds this to RAWS on Exchange Server
5. RAWS on Exchange Server uses MAPI to write data back to the Exchange database much as if it were from a legacy type backup


Restore from Backup to Tape of Exchange granular mailbox, or public folder, data with GRT enabled:

1. Restore selection data is provided by catalog data gathered at the end of the backup by MAPI on Exchange server
2. User selects granular mailbox data ONLY (NO Public Folder Granular data is available) to restore
3. Entire set data (all IMG folder data) for that Exchange IS backup job is written to staging area on disk location specified by user
4. Restore job extracts data from IMG folders using VFF/ESE and feeds this to RAWS on Exchange Server
5. RAWS on Exchange Server uses MAPI to write data back to the Exchange database much as if it were from a legacy type backup



--- The things to note here are the differences between the backup to disk method versus the backup to tape method for backups and restores.

1. On backup, the Backup To Disk folders do not need to write catalog selections for the Exchange data following the backup. The restore selections are generated dynamically from the IMG folders which contain the complete Exchange IS database in it's native format. This is read by BE using the VFF (EDBProv.dll) and the ESE.dll provided from the Exchange server.

2. With the Backup To Tape, on the other hand, the granular restore selections must be gathered and written to a regular catalog to be browsed by the user when creating restore selections. This is accomplished by RAWS using MAPI on the Exchange server to gather the data from the Exchange server using Active Directory.

3. The restore process itself (aside from the initial restore selection creation) is essentially the same, other than, if the data is coming from tape, it has to be dumped to the staging area on disk first prior to the extraction of items and the restoration process.

4. Public Folder granular restore data will NOT show up in restore selections if the backup job is written to tape. This is a limitation of MAPI. We are not able to get enough information from Active Directory to associate the Public Folder data with its actual location. This is not a problem with restore selections from backup to disk folders due to the dynamic way we can read the Exchange database using the VFF technology.
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To clarify my understanding :

1. I would backup the data (even for Exchange enabled with GRT) directly to tape. Disk-to-folder + Tape only aims to keep duplicate copy. Disk-to-folder could only increase the restore time. There is no big difference between disk-to-folder backup or tape backup.

2. I could restore any data from tape directly as it need use stage location.

3. There is also a calalog keep for disk-to-folder but Exchange restoration don't need to use that.

Thanks again.
Yes, but for point 3, BE will need to catalog the D2F in order to restore from it, so it is BE not Exchange thing.
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Tks