Windows Backup not backing up Exchange 2010 server vss failing

Firstly what is the Exchange 2010 version ?
Secondly what kind of backup is running for Exchange ?

- Rancy

ASKER

exchange 2010 enterprise

i have tried backup exec and windows backup

Exchange 2010 ... SP and RU ??
Are you saying that everytime you try a backup the Exchange writer fail ?

An attempt to prepare the database 'ldn-umdb-01' for backup failed because the database is already in the process of being backed up
I would say once check the backup status before the start of backup as if they are in Waiting for completion than it will fail.

- Rancy

ASKER

hi

version 14.1 (build 218.15)

Previously, the windows backup was completing but failing the consistency check and the transaction logs were not clearing down.

windows backup error "The application will not be available for recovery"

So its e2k10 SP1 and some RU i guess. Hope your backing from the Passive node ... what if you change the Active Server for one DB and try from a different server ?

Are all the 3 nodes having the same Exchange version ?
Are all the DB's in Heatly Copy status ?

- Rancy

ASKER

the above errors were active mode. I have tried passive mode as well. all are healthy. i have rebooted and now other mbx server is active.

i am getting conflicts of info wheter i should backup the active or passive to clear down the tran logs

Passive ....

Hello Phil,

To be able to backup a DAG member you have to do a registry hack. Here is an article. I have run into this several times. It is better to use a third party backup utility. You get more bells and whistles. Also, take a look at Microsoft Data Protection Manager. I am currently working on a Novell Groupwise to Exchange Server 2010 migration. This is one of the utilities that we are evaluating for the client.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd876851.aspx

Thanks,

Idea Dudes

ASKER

hi,

i have seen this article. What impact will it have on the system and the DAG.

I am bit worried about making this change?!

thanks

phil

Phil,

It will allow the Volume Shadow Copy service to work. The VSS takes a snapshot and uses it to backup. Then it does it again. Until all of the files are backed up. It will not harm anything in the DAG. The DAG will continue to function. This is why it is better to use a 3rd party backup utility. It is one of the drwabacks of using Windows Server Backup.

Let me know if you have any questions,

Thanks,

Idea Dudes

ASKER

hi i changed reg key per article and restated exchange replication service.

i then performed same windows backup and it was successful. although the trans logs did not clear down! :-(

phil

That is one of the problems with Windows Server backup. The clearing of the Transaction logs. Did you do a full backup?

ASKER

Yes full backup. I decided earlier in day tO enable circular loging. It cleared down 120gb of transaction logs. I then disabled circular logging. Let the logs build up again for 6 hours, made a note of the files and disk usage. Ran a full backup with new registry key and it was successful but the logs did not clear down. There was still the 6hours worth.

I am not to worried as circular logging got me out of disk space issues, and now hae successful backup. I do wonder if it is crash consistant and would actually mount though!!

What do u think? Also I am thinking of taking reg key away. Restarting exchange replication service and then trying Symantec backup exec tape backup. Now that the logs are only a few gb at the moment may be successfull

Thanks

Phil

I would recommend that you use Symantec tape backup. Just make sure that it is compatible with Exchange Server 2010 and VSS. Also, you might want to backup to disk and then backup to tape. Disk is a lot faster and then you can backup to tape. Symantec should truncate the logs after doing a full backup. Circular logging is a good thing but it can lose some history data. You might want to consider doing a lagged copy of on your DAG. How many mailbox servers do you have in your DAG?

Thanks,

Idea Dudes

ASKER

hi

after removing the regkey, restarting exchange replication service and running backup exec 2010 with exchange agent, the logs truncated! :-)

i think doing the circular logging the other day, and then re enabling it, cleared down the logs enough for the backup exec backup to complete.

so i am now happy.

we have 3 malbox servers in our DAG. how do i create a laged copy. ideally i would do it on the mailbox server at our DR site?

thanks

phil

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