Windows Server Backup and Exchange 2010

In Windows Server 2003 there was the free backup utility called NTBackup. You could use NTBackup to create (streaming) backups or your Exchange Server Mailbox Databases. In Windows Server 2008 and later NTBackup is replaced by Windows Server Backup. Exchange Server 2007 SP2 and Exchange Server 2010 have a plug-in for Windows Server Backup so you can create VSS backups or your Exchange Databases.

To enable Windows Server Backup on your Exchange Server open the Server Manager. Expand Features and click Add Features. In the results pane select "Windows Server Backup" and the accompanying "Command-line Tools" to install Windows Server Backup.

To create a backup using Windows Server Backup follow these steps:

  • Open Windows Server Backup from the Administrative Tools Menu;
  • In the Actions Pane select "Backup once" and select a "Custom" backup;
  • In Windows Server 2008 you can only select the volume that hosts the Database, in Windows Server 2008 R2 you can select the directory that hosts the Database;
  • Click the "Advanced Settings" button and select the "VSS Settings" tab. Select a "VSS Full Backup";
  • Select the location where you want to store the backup. This can either be a local disk or a network share;
  • If all entries are correct you can start the backup. The only way to see if an Exchange backup is created is by carefully looking at the screen. You'll see a "Running consistency check for application Exchange" message appear at the console;

To restore a previous backup follow these steps:

  • Open Windows Server Backup from the Administrative Tools Menu;
  • In the Actions Pane select "Recover";
  • Select where the backup is stored, this can be the local server (local disk) or a remote file share;
  • In the "Select Backup Date" select which backup you want to restore;
  • In the "Select Recovery Type" window select Applications. There's only one application (Exchange) so continue the wizard;
  • Select the location where you want to restore (original location or another location);
  • Click the Recover button to actually start the restore of the Database.

If you are using a Database Availability Group (DAG) and you want to use Windows Server Backup you have to disable the Microsoft Exchange Replication Service VSS Writer. Do disable this, open the Registry Editor and navigate to the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\ExchangeServer\v14\Replay\Parameters key.
Create a new DWORD value and name it EnableVSSWriter. Set its value to 0 and restart the Microsoft Exchange Replication Service.

 

 

 

 

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