Veritas NetBackup™ for Microsoft Exchange Server Administrator's Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): NetBackup (8.0)
  1. Introducing NetBackup for Exchange
    1.  
      About NetBackup for Exchange
    2.  
      Features of NetBackup for Exchange
    3.  
      NetBackup for Exchange terminology
    4.  
      NetBackup documentation
  2. Installing NetBackup for Exchange
    1.  
      Planning the installation of NetBackup for Exchange
    2.  
      Verifying the operating system and platform compatibility for NetBackup for Exchange
    3.  
      NetBackup server requirements for NetBackup for Exchange
    4.  
      NetBackup client requirements for NetBackup for Exchange
    5.  
      Exchange server software requirements for NetBackup for Exchange
    6. Snapshot Client configuration and licensing requirements for Exchange snapshot backups
      1.  
        Requirements for Exchange off-host backups
      2.  
        Requirements for Exchange Instant Recovery backups
    7.  
      About the license for NetBackup for Exchange
  3. Configuring Exchange client host properties
    1.  
      Configuring Exchange client host properties
    2.  
      Exchange properties in the NetBackup Administration Console
    3.  
      About configuring a pause in consistency checks for Exchange 2007
    4.  
      About backing up all or only uncommitted Exchange transaction log files with snapshot backups
    5.  
      Configuring the Exchange granular proxy host
    6.  
      About truncating Exchange transaction logs with Instant Recovery backups
    7.  
      Truncating Exchange transaction logs by performing a backup to a storage unit
    8.  
      About consistency checks options for an Exchange 2010 or later backup
    9.  
      About the Exchange credentials in the client host properties
  4. Configuring the account for NetBackup Exchange operations
    1.  
      About configuring the account for NetBackup Exchange operations
    2.  
      About NetBackup and Microsoft Exchange Web Services (Exchange 2010 and later)
    3.  
      Creating a privileged NetBackup user account for EWS access (Exchange 2010 and later)
    4.  
      Creating a minimal NetBackup account for Exchange operations (Exchange 2010 and later)
    5.  
      Configuring the account for NetBackup Exchange operations (Exchange 2007)
    6.  
      About configuring the account for NetBackup Exchange operations with the right to Replace a process level token
  5. Configuring the Exchange hosts
    1.  
      Configuring the Exchange hosts
  6. Configuring Exchange Granular Recovery
    1. About Exchange backups and Granular Recovery Technology (GRT)
      1.  
        About mailbox discovery and Granular Recovery Technology (GRT)
      2.  
        Exchange granular clients and non-VMware backups
      3.  
        Exchange granular clients and VMware backups
      4.  
        Exchange granular operations and the NetBackup media server
    2.  
      Configuring an Exchange backup that uses Granular Recovery Technology (GRT) (non-VMware backups)
    3. About installing and configuring Network File System (NFS) for Exchange Granular Recovery
      1. About configuring Services for Network File System (NFS) on Windows 2012 and Windows 2012 R2 (NetBackup for Exchange)
        1.  
          Enabling Services for Network File System (NFS) on a Windows 2012 or Windows 2012 R2 media server (NetBackup for Exchange)
        2.  
          Enabling Services for Network File System (NFS) on a Windows 2012 or Windows 2012 R2 Exchange client
      2. About configuring Services for Network File System (NFS) on Windows 2008 and Windows 2008 R2 (NetBackup for Exchange)
        1.  
          Enabling Services for Network File System (NFS) on Windows 2008 or Windows 2008 R2 (NetBackup for Exchange)
      3.  
        Disabling the Server for NFS (NetBackup for Exchange)
      4.  
        Disabling the Client for NFS on the media server (NetBackup for Exchange)
      5.  
        Configuring a UNIX media server and Windows clients for backups and restores that use Granular Recovery Technology (GRT) (NetBackup for Exchange)
      6.  
        Configuring a different network port for NBFSD (NetBackup for Exchange)
    4.  
      Disk storage units supported with Exchange Granular Recovery Technology (GRT)
    5.  
      Disabling the cataloging for duplications of Exchange backups that use Granular Recovery Technology (GRT)
    6.  
      Cataloging an Exchange backup or VMware backup that uses Granular Recovery Technology (GRT)
    7.  
      Configuring the logon account for the NetBackup Client Service
  7. Configuring Exchange backup policies (non-VMware)
    1.  
      About Exchange automatic, user-directed, and manual backups
    2. About configuring a backup policy for Exchange Server
      1.  
        Policy recommendations for Exchange Server 2010 and later
      2.  
        Policy recommendations for Exchange Server 2007 backups
      3.  
        About policy attributes for NetBackup for Exchange
      4. Adding schedules to a NetBackup for Exchange policy
        1.  
          NetBackup for Exchange backup types
        2.  
          About schedule properties (NetBackup for Exchange)
      5.  
        Adding clients to a NetBackup for Exchange policy
      6.  
        Using physical node names in the clients list
      7. Adding backup selections to an Exchange policy
        1.  
          Adding entries to a backup selections list by browsing (NetBackup for Exchange)
        2.  
          Manually adding Exchange entries to the backup selections list
        3.  
          Performing Exchange backups with multiple data streams
        4.  
          Using multiple datastreams with Exchange Database Availability Groups (DAG)s
        5.  
          Using wildcards in an Exchange backup selections list
        6.  
          About excluding Exchange items from backups
        7.  
          Configuring exclude lists for Exchange clients
      8.  
        About Exchange backups and transaction logs
    3. About configuring snapshot backups of Exchange Server
      1.  
        About snapshot backups with Exchange Server
      2.  
        Limitations of Exchange snapshot operations
      3.  
        Configuration requirements and recommendations for the Exchange Server when performing snapshot operations
      4.  
        Consistency checks on Exchange snapshot backups
      5. Configuring a snapshot policy for Exchange Server
        1.  
          Snapshot options for backups of Exchange Server
        2.  
          Backup source for a Database Availability (DAG) backup or an Exchange 2007 replication backup
        3.  
          Configuring a preferred server list for a Database Availability Group (DAG)
        4.  
          Backup status for Exchange Database Availability Groups (DAGs) and the preferred server list
    4. About configuring Instant Recovery backups of Exchange Server
      1.  
        About Exchange Instant Recovery methods
      2.  
        Policy recommendations for Exchange Instant Recovery
      3.  
        About Storage Foundations for Windows (SFW) and Exchange Instant Recovery
      4.  
        About configuration requirements for the Exchange Server when you use Instant Recovery
      5.  
        About Exchange Instant Recovery with the Microsoft VSS Provider
      6. Configuring an Exchange snapshot policy with Instant Recovery
        1.  
          Adding schedules for Exchange Instant Recovery
        2.  
          Schedules settings in Exchange Instant Recovery policies
        3.  
          About Exchange Instant Recovery volume rotation
        4.  
          Adding backup selections to an Exchange policy with Instant Recovery
    5. Configuring streaming backups of Exchange Server (Exchange 2007)
      1.  
        Notes and limitations for creating a backup selections list for Exchange 2007 streaming database backups
    6.  
      Performing a manual backup (NetBackup for Exchange)
  8. Performing backups of Exchange Server, mailboxes, and public folders
    1.  
      About user-directed backups of Exchange Server data
    2.  
      About selecting a source client for an Exchange Server backup operation
    3.  
      Backup Files field descriptions
    4.  
      Performing user-directed snapshot backups of Exchange Server
    5.  
      Performing user-directed streaming backups of Exchange Server (Exchange 2007)
    6.  
      Performing user-directed full streaming backups (Exchange 2007)
  9. Performing restores of Exchange Server, mailboxes, and public folders
    1.  
      About Exchange server-directed and redirected restores
    2.  
      About selecting a destination client for an Exchange restore operation
    3.  
      About restoring Exchange database data
    4.  
      About existing Exchange Server transaction logs
    5. About restoring Exchange snapshot backups
      1.  
        Options for Exchange snapshot restores
      2.  
        Performing a snapshot restore of a Database Availability Group (DAG)
      3.  
        Performing a snapshot restore of an Exchange 2010 or later standalone server
      4.  
        Recovering an Exchange 2007 Local Continuous Replication (LCR) environment
      5.  
        Recovering an Exchange 2007 Clustered Continuous Replication (CCR) environment
      6.  
        Redirecting a Database Availability Group (DAG) snapshot backup to another database or to the recovery database (RDB)
      7.  
        Redirecting an Exchange 2010 or later standalone server snapshot backup to another database or to the recovery database (RDB)
      8.  
        Performing a snapshot restore of an Exchange 2007
      9.  
        Redirecting an Exchange 2007 snapshot backup to a storage group
      10.  
        Redirecting an Exchange 2007 snapshot backup to the recovery storage group
      11.  
        Manually mounting an Exchange database after a restore
    6. About restoring streaming backups of Exchange Server (Exchange 2007)
      1.  
        Options for streaming restores of Exchange databases
      2.  
        Restoring storage groups or storage group databases from a streaming backup
      3.  
        Redirecting an Exchange 2007 streaming backup to a recovery storage group
    7. About restoring individual Exchange mailbox and public folder items
      1.  
        About special characters in Exchange mailbox folders and message subjects
      2.  
        Prerequisites and operational notes for restoring Exchange individual mailboxes, mailbox folders, public folders, or messages
      3.  
        Options for restores of Exchange Server mailbox objects or public folder objects
      4.  
        Restoring Exchange mailbox or public folder objects
      5. About redirecting a restore of Exchange mailbox or public folder objects to a different path
        1.  
          About requirements for redirecting the restore of an Exchange mailbox or public folder object to a different path
        2.  
          Redirecting the restore of an Exchange mailbox, mailbox folder, or public folder
        3.  
          Redirecting a restore of an Exchange folder, message, or document to a different path
      6.  
        About using the command line to browse or restore Exchange granular backup images
  10. Protecting Exchange Server data with VMware backups
    1. About protecting Exchange Server data with VMware backups
      1.  
        About the Veritas VSS provider for vSphere (NetBackup for Exchange)
      2.  
        Support for VMware backups that protect Exchange Server
      3.  
        Limitations of using a VMware policy to protect Exchange Server
    2.  
      Notes for configuration of VMware policies that protect Exchange Server
    3. About configuring a VMware backup that protects Exchange Server
      1.  
        Installing the Veritas VSS provider for vSphere (NetBackup for Exchange)
      2.  
        Using NetBackup Accelerator to increase speed of full VMware backups (NetBackup for Exchange)
      3.  
        Configuring Granular Recovery Technology (GRT) with a VMware backup that protects Exchange
      4.  
        Configuring a VMware policy to back up Exchange Server
    4. About configuring a VMware backup that protects Exchange Server, using Replication Director to manage snapshot replication
      1.  
        Configuring Granular Recovery Technology (GRT) with a VMware backup that protects Exchange, using Replication Director to manage snapshot replication
      2.  
        Configuring a VMware policy to back up Exchange Server using Replication Director to manage snapshot replication
      3.  
        Configuring NetBackup with access to the CIFS share on the NetApp disk array (NetBackup for Exchange)
    5.  
      About restoring Exchange data from a VMware backup
    6.  
      Enabling protection of passive copies of the Exchange database with VMware backups (Exchange 2010 and later)
  11. Recovering an Exchange database to a repaired or an alternate Exchange server
    1.  
      About recovery of Exchange databases
    2.  
      Recovering an Exchange database
  12. Troubleshooting backups and restores of Exchange Server
    1. About NetBackup for Exchange debug logging
      1.  
      2.  
        Debug logs for NetBackup for Exchange backup operations
      3.  
        Debug logs for NetBackup for Exchange restore operations
      4.  
        Veritas VSS provider logs (NetBackup for Exchange agent)
      5.  
        Setting the debug level on a NetBackup for Exchange Windows client
    2. Viewing Event Viewer logs on an off-host Exchange server
      1.  
        Connecting to the remote Exchange server from within Event Viewer
      2.  
        About installing the Exchange System Management Tools on the remote server
    3. About NetBackup status reports
      1.  
        Viewing the progress report of a NetBackup for Exchange operation
    4. Troubleshooting Exchange restore operations
      1.  
        Restores to different Exchange service pack or different cumulative update levels
    5.  
      Exchange Server transaction log truncation errors
    6.  
      Dynamic enforcement of path length limit for Exchange backups and restores
    7.  
      Troubleshooting Exchange snapshot operations
    8.  
      Troubleshooting Exchange jobs that use Granular Recovery Technology (GRT)
    9.  
      Increased memory usage with Exchange 2010 and 2013
    10. Troubleshooting DAG backups and restores
      1.  
        Finding the current host server of the Database Availability Group (DAG)
      2.  
        Displaying and resetting the backup status for a Database Availability Group (DAG)
    11.  
      Troubleshooting VMware backups and restores of Exchange Server
  13. Appendix A. Configuring MAPI mailbox and public folder operations (Exchange 2007)
    1.  
      About Exchange MAPI mailbox and public folder operations
    2.  
      About configuring the account for NetBackup Exchange operations for MAPI mailbox and public folder operations
    3.  
      Configuring the logon account for the NetBackup Client Service for MAPI mailbox and public folder operations (NetBackup for Exchange)
    4.  
      About configuring Exchange Single Instance Store backups
    5.  
      Policy recommendations for MAPI mailbox and public folder operations
    6.  
      Configuring a policy for backups of individual Exchange mailboxes or public folders
    7.  
      Adding backup selections to an Exchange policy for MAPI mailbox and public folder backups
    8.  
      Notes and limitations when you create a backup selections list for MAPI mailbox and public folder backups
    9.  
      About excluding Exchange items from MAPI mailbox and public folder backups
    10.  
      Configuring exclude lists for Exchange clients in MAPI mailbox and public folder backup policies
    11.  
      Using wildcards in an Exchange backup selections list for MAPI mailbox or public folder backups
    12.  
      Performing user-directed MAPI backups of individual mailboxes and public folders
    13.  
      Restoring Exchange mailbox or public folder objects from MAPI mailbox or public folder backups
    14.  
      Redirecting a mailbox or public folder object from a MAPI mailbox backup
    15.  
      Debug logs for NetBackup for Exchange MAPI mailbox and public folder backup and restore operations
  14. Appendix B. NetBackup Legacy Network Service (Exchange 2010)
    1.  
      Configuring the logon account for the NetBackup Legacy Network Service (Exchange 2010)

Features of NetBackup for Exchange

Table: NetBackup for Exchange Server features describes the features of the NetBackup for Exchange Server agent.

Table: NetBackup for Exchange Server features

Feature

Description

Tight NetBackup integration

Tight integration with NetBackup allows for the following:

  • An administrator already familiar with NetBackup procedures and software can easily configure and use NetBackup to perform Exchange Server backup and restore operations.

  • Features and strengths of the NetBackup product suite are available to the Exchange Server backup user. These features include software data compression and encryption, scheduled and user-directed operations, backups of multiple data streams, and in-line tape copy.

See the NetBackup Administrator's Guide, Volume I.

Central administration

Administrators can define, back up, and restore Exchange Servers and other NetBackup client computers from a central location.

Media management

Exchange Server backups can be saved directly to a wide variety of storage devices that the NetBackup master server supports.

Minimal backup time

An administrator has the choice of to perform full or incremental backups. A full backup may take considerable time, so it may be performed infrequently. In the interim, any updates that occurred since the full backup can be quickly and incrementally backed up through a transaction log backup. In the event of a failure, the full backups and incremental backups would be restored.

During recovery, the Exchange Server updates the databases and applies each of the logged transactions to the database. After the Exchange Server recovery completes, the system is brought back to the state as it existed when the last incremental backup was performed.

Exchange Server Backup methods

NetBackup supports all Exchange Server backup methods: full backups, cumulative incremental backups, and differential incremental backups. User backups function as copy backups.

Online backups

Exchange Server data and transaction logs can be backed up without taking the Exchange Server offline. Exchange services and data remain available during the Exchange Server backup.

Automated backups

Administrators can set up schedules for automatic, unattended backups for local or remote clients across the network. These backups can be full or incremental and are managed entirely by the NetBackup server from a central location. The administrator can also manually back up the clients.

Restore operations

An administrator using the Backup, Archive, and Restore interface can browse backups and select the ones to be restored.

Support for VMware backups that protect Exchange

Users can create consistent full backups of virtual machines running Exchange Server. By default, NetBackup provides protection of the active databases in a DAG. You can restore Exchange storage groups or databases and individual database objects from a VMware image. NetBackup provides support for VMware policies that use Replication Director to manage snapshots and snapshot replicas (storage lifecycle policy).

Exchange 2010 and later standalone server and DAG support

NetBackup for Exchange supports backups of Exchange 2010 and later standalone servers and Database Availability Groups (DAGs). VSS is the only backup Microsoft supports of Exchange 2010 and later backups.

For a DAG, NetBackup supports backups of the active and the passive VSS writer of a Database Availability Group (DAG). When NetBackup backs up the data that is replicated the benefit is that I/O effect is reduced on the active Exchange server. NetBackup accesses the replicated data and leaves the active (or live) Exchange server alone. NetBackup can back up the passive copy on a specific server, based on the list of preferred servers.

Exchange 2007 backup and restore features

NetBackup can back up and restore storage groups and databases within the storage group.

The capabilities of this feature are as follows:

  • Scheduled backups of individual storage groups and databases

  • User-directed backups of individual storage groups and databases

  • Restores of individual storage groups and databases. You can perform these restores with the Backup, Archive, and Restore interface (on the server or on the client). Or you can use the Remote Administration Console.

Enhancements to consistency checks of snapshot backups

For snapshot backups, NetBackup uses the Microsoft consistency check API to check the consistency of databases and transaction logs and to provide additional details. This speeds up a snapshot backup, because it allows the backup to proceed in parallel with the consistency check. For an Exchange DAG, you can disable the consistency check or ignore the check and continue with the backup.

Snapshot backups and restores

NetBackup for Exchange can perform Exchange backups and restores with snapshot methodology. With a separate Snapshot Client license, you can perform off-host backups, Instant Recovery backups, and backups with a hardware provider.

See About snapshot backups with Exchange Server.

Restores of individual items using Granular Recovery Technology (GRT)

When a backup uses GRT, users can restore individual mailbox and public folder items directly from any full database backup.

See About Exchange backups and Granular Recovery Technology (GRT).

Redirected restores of mailbox objects

You can restore mailboxes, mailbox folders, mailbox messages, public folders, and public folder items to a new location.

Redirected restores of databases or storage groups

Backups can be restored to another database or another storage group on the local server or on a different server.

Redirection to the recovery database (RDB) or recovery storage group (RSG)

Backups can be redirected to the recovery database or RSG.

Support for NetBackup Accelerator with VMware backups

NetBackup Accelerator can potentially increase the speed of full VMware backups. By reducing the backup time, it is easier to perform the VMware backup within the backup window. Accelerator support for Exchange currently restricts backups to the full schedule type. This restriction also exists for a VMware backup that protects Exchange without Accelerator.

Compression of backups

Compression increases backup performance over the network and reduces the size of the backup image that is stored on the disk or tape. NetBackup does not support GRT for any backups that use compression.

Encryption

The encryption feature encrypts the backup for the clients that are listed in the policy. NetBackup does not support GRT for any backups that use encryption.

Cluster support

The NetBackup for Exchange Server agent supports clustered Exchange servers; however, the agent is not cluster-aware. For information on the cluster solutions that are supported with Exchange Server, refer to your Exchange documentation.

LCR/CCR support

NetBackup for Exchange with Snapshot Client supports backups of the passive VSS writer of an Exchange 2007 LCR and CCR configuration. NetBackup can back up the data that is replicated by interfacing with the replica (or passive) Exchange server. The benefit of such a backup is to reduce I/O effect on the active Exchange server. NetBackup accesses the replicated data and leaves the active (or live) Exchange server alone. This type of backup is especially beneficial for a backup of a CCR node because the active node is completely left out of the backup. VSS is the only backup Microsoft supports of this replicated data.

Multi-tenant environments

Backup and recovery of Exchange Server databases are fully supported in a multi-tenant environment. NetBackup does not support restoring mailbox items into tenant mailboxes in a multi-tenant Exchange environment. To recover items pertaining to a tenant mailbox, redirect the recovery to a non-tenant mailbox.

Public folder backup and restore (with MAPI)

With Exchange 2007, users can perform backups and restores of individual public folder items (with MAPI), as follows:

  • Scheduled backups of individual folders

  • User-directed backups of individual folders

  • Restores of individual folders or documents. You can perform this type of restore can with the Backup, Archive, and Restore interface (on the server or on the client). Or you can use the Remote Administration Console.

Mailbox backup and restore (with MAPI)

With Exchange 2007, users can perform backups and restores of individual mailboxes and folders (with MAPI), as follows:

  • Scheduled backups of individual mailboxes and folders

  • User-directed backups of individual mailboxes and folders

  • Restores of individual mailboxes, folders, or messages. You can perform this type of restore with the Backup, Archive, and Restore interface (on the server or on the client). Or you can use the Remote Administration Console.

Single Instance Storage (SIS) of mailbox message attachments

This feature applies only to Exchange 2007 mailbox backups with MAPI. Users can enable Single Instance Storage for message attachments so that NetBackup writes only one copy of an attachment to the backup.