Understanding Microsoft Exchange Backup

If you are running Microsoft Exchange Server on this computer, you will create a special database backup configuration specifically to protect Exchange. To help ensure that your Exchange data is appropriately protected, LiveVault Online Backup Service provides special management for this configuration.

Automatic Exchange backup configurations

In LiveVault Online Backup Service Agent version 4.0 and later, LiveVault Online Backup Service automatically detects that Exchange is installed on the computer, identifies the version, and prompts you to choose whether to automatically generate and maintain special database backup configurations to protect the full Exchange server (that is, the entire computer) or the Exchange data only. Your choice determines your computer's backup configurations:

If you choose to automatically back up the Exchange data only, LiveVault Online Backup Service creates an Exchange data only backup configuration. You will still be prompted to set up the Files and Directories backup configuration (including the Windows System State/registry), and any additional database configurations for other databases or applications on your computer.
If you choose to automatically back up the entire Exchange server, LiveVault Online Backup Service creates an Exchange data only backup configuration, and the Files and Directories backup configuration (including the Windows System State/registry). You will still be prompted to create any additional database configurations for other databases or applications on your computer.

For all automatic Exchange backup configurations, LiveVault Online Backup Service determines the correct set of Exchange files and directories to back up to ensure the application data is accurately protected. You can review these selections, but you cannot modify them. You also set the schedule specifying when Exchange should be backed up.

If you specify that you want to automatically back up the entire Exchange server, LiveVault Online Backup Service also sets up your Files and Directories backup configuration to back up the entire computer, including the Windows System State/registry. You cannot modify the Files and Directories configuration. Also, your schedule applies to both the Exchange backup and the Files and Directories backup configurations.

LiveVault Online Backup Service periodically checks the Exchange application configuration on your computer. When it detects a change in the configuration, for example, a new Exchange 2000 store or a changed transaction log path, it automatically updates the file selection rules to ensure that your Exchange data is always being accurately protected. When a change is made, an e-mail is sent to the computer's technical contacts notifying them of the change.

After initial Exchange backup configuration, it is possible to switch to a different Exchange backup option (for example, switch from data only to full server). However, you must be aware of the implications of this change and ensure Exchange and the computer continue to be adequately protected.

If you switch how Exchange is being backed up, LiveVault Online Backup Service does not transmit all the Exchange data in full again. Instead, it transmits the full files only for those Exchange files that had not been previously backed up by any backup configuration.

Custom Exchange backup configurations

In LiveVault Online Backup Service Agent version 3.6 or earlier, or optionally in Agent version 4.0 and later, you can define your own custom Exchange data backup configuration.

For a custom configuration, you specify the Exchange files and directories to back up, and set a schedule indicating when Exchange should be backed up.

Important: If you are defining your own custom Exchange backup configuration, follow the guidelines in the appropriate procedure for your Exchange version:

After initial Exchange backup configuration, it is possible to switch to a different Exchange backup option (for example, switch from custom to automatic full server). However, you must be aware of the implications of this change and ensure Exchange and the computer continue to be adequately protected.

Exchange backup when upgrading to Agent version 4.0

When you upgrade from Agent version 3.6 to Agent version 4.0, your existing Exchange backup configuration will automatically default to a custom Exchange backup configuration and will continue to run as before.

You can switch to an automatic Exchange backup configuration either at upgrade time or later.

When you switch, your existing custom Exchange backup configuration will be replaced with the automatic Exchange backup configuration you chose.

Exchange application options

In LiveVault Online Backup Service Agent version 4.0 and later, MyLiveVault displays several Exchange application option settings that affect backup and restore operations.

The version of Exchange that you are running determines the options that are available.

The available options are:

Circular logging (for Exchange 5.5 and Exchange 2000/2003)
Message and mailbox retention settings (Exchange 2000/2003)

You can review your current Exchange option settings in MyLiveVault beginning in LiveVault Online Backup Service Agent version 4.0. If you are running an earlier Agent version, you must review these options through the Exchange management interface.

For Exchange 2000/2003, you can also modify the Exchange settings via MyLiveVault. These modified settings will be applied in Exchange. Optionally, you can contact Customer Service and have them turn off the capability to set these options through MyLiveVault; however, the option settings remain visible.

Ensuring Exchange disaster recoverability

To ensure that you can recover your Exchange server in the event of a disaster, you must back up the full server. This includes:

Backing up your Exchange data (on your Exchange backup configuration)
Backing up the Windows registry/System State (on your Files and Directories backup configuration)
Backing up all the general files and directories, including the operating system and program files (on your Files and Directories backup configuration)
Backing up other specific database/application data (on individual database backup configurations).

To easily ensure recoverability of your Exchange server, choose the automatic full Exchange server backup option.

For Exchange 2000/2003, ensuring disaster recoverability also requires backing up the Windows 2000/2003 Active Directory Service (ADS) on domain controller within the Exchange Server's domain (which likely is a different computer in many environments), and IIS components required by Exchange. Refer to Microsoft Exchange 2000 or 2003: Key Considerations for Backup for more information about backing up Exchange 2000/2003.

Important: Failure to back up the full server and other required components may preclude the ability to recover your Exchange server.

Related Information

Creating a Microsoft Exchange Backup Configuration
Microsoft Exchange 2000 or 2003: Key Considerations for Backup
Microsoft Exchange 2000 or 2003: Configuring Deleted Mailbox and Message Retention
Microsoft Exchange 2000 or 2003: Custom Data Backup
Microsoft Exchange 5.5: Custom Data Backup
Viewing and Setting Microsoft Exchange Application Options
Microsoft Exchange: Exclusions
Modifying a Microsoft Exchange Backup Configuration
Deleting a Microsoft Exchange Backup Configuration