Exchange backup
Hi I was just wondering during exchange backup only .edb file will get backed up or it will take the backup of corressponding transaction logs also on to the backup. Because I need to design a backup plan for my org. Current database i.e. .edb file size is 10 GB. So if it will backup transaction logs also I need to think for 10 GB extra space on the tapes. Can anybody help me clearing out on this. What will get backed up into the tapes during full backup process of exchange. Is it only .edb file or .edb+transaction log files. Thanks in advance.
December 21st, 2010 2:01pm

You need to allocate space for the transaction logs in case you need to use an earlier database backup and need the days logs to add to todays logs so that you get back up to date. Database backups might fail and you might need earlier tapes. Get an Exchange-aware backup product and backup to disk. Then stream that backup off to tape or better still dont bother using tape and replicate the data to some second location. They you have three copies of the data online and can quickly recovery. Tape is so last century in todays connected world. "D.verma" wrote in message news:ba6682a5-f894-4d85-8129-577f85d3351e... Hi I was just wondering during exchange backup only .edb file will get backed up or it will take the backup of corressponding transaction logs also on to the backup. Because I need to design a backup plan for my org. Current database i.e. ..edb file size is 10 GB. So if it will backup transaction logs also I need to think for 10 GB extra space on the tapes. Can anybody help me clearing out on this. What will get backed up into the tapes during full backup process of exchange. Is it only .edb file or .edb+transaction log files. Thanks in advance. Mark Arnold, Exchange MVP.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 21st, 2010 2:36pm

Mark is of course correct on all points, i.e. logs will be part of every Exchange aware backup and upon backup completion the logs that are part of the backup will be truncated i.e. removed from the Exchange system. I would also look for a solution that will backup to disk and then of course you can also archive that backup to tape thereafter if you want to protect it off-site OR as Mark suggest there are solutions out there that will let you stream/replicate your backups in the cloud as well if you want to have triple redundancy, i.e. 1. Backing up to disk is faster for both backup and recovery since its immediately available vs having to load up a tape. 2. Tape is great for archiving the backups on disk so that you can then store them off-site for say DR purposes 3. Replicating/Archiving the data from disk to cloud is a great way to ensure the data is available from pretty much anywhere, i.e. you don't need tape drives to recover the backup etc. Only negative issue of course is the bandwidth requirements i.e. 10GB to the cloud takes time and dependent upon bandwidth it can take a long time to accomplish a backup or recovery so just take these things into consideration.Troy Werelius www.Lucid8.com
December 21st, 2010 2:59pm

HI Tory/Mark, Thanks for your reply. I agree with both of your viewpoints. But here my concern is that When exchange database full backup happen. Will it take the backup of corressponding log files or not ? OR Because on the backup tapes if I am trying to restore I can see only .edb file and there are no log files backed up. This might be silly. but I need this thing to get cleared so that in future at the time of disaster. I should not be in trouble. As I told I can not see any log files are getting backed up into the tapes during backup procedure. Will it create any issue during recovery. Many thanks in advacne !!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 22nd, 2010 3:38am

If you are using an Exchange Aware backup product then it will backup the EDB and the required logs (As well as the STM if you are using 2000/2003) Do you have a backup product that you are using now (if so what are you using) and if so is it using an Exchange Aware agent, i.e. can it backup the Exchange Databases while online?Troy Werelius www.Lucid8.com
December 22nd, 2010 12:05pm

Hi Tory, Yes I am going to use exchange aware backup product. And EDB size file is 11 GB curretly. you mentioned that will backup edb files and required log files. so i need tape with a capicity of min. 22GB.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 23rd, 2010 5:27am

Ok probably a good idea to have the extra capacity for growth of the EDB, however, realize that if you have allot of LOG files now they will be truncated/deleted once a proper backup is made. NOTE: If you have haven't done a backup in a long time they you are going to have a very large log dataset (possibly multiple GB) but once you execute a successful full backup there will only be a few logs left and then they will build in number and size until the next backup. If you do a full backup daily then the # of logs will be minimal with each backup. Troy Werelius www.Lucid8.com
December 23rd, 2010 11:40am

This topic is archived. No further replies will be accepted.

Other recent topics Other recent topics