Configuring GRT based Exchange Backup using vmware backup policy
Created: 21 Feb 2013 | Updated: 30 Apr 2013 | 7 comments
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Hi All,
I am using Netbackup 7.5.0.4 version with Master server running on AIX and Media server running on windows 2008. All versions are 7.5.0.4. I want to configure backup of Exchange using vmware backup policy with GRT support and the backup should also truncate logs from Exchange.
Looking at the technotes it seems to simple as to just configure backup of the vm holding exchange servers and it will backup Exchange. Please advise is it that simple or do i have to configure some other parameters as well?
Looking forward to your comments.
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hi,
in additing to general VMware policy config.
you would need to install the Nebackup Client on the Exchage server and also the Symantec VSS provider on the virtual machine
see the below note from Vmware guide. 7.5 page 56
This option enables recovery of the Exchange databases or mailbox messages from the
I think you will find that GRT via a VMWare Policy is for standalone servers (So single Exchange Server, single Sharepoint Server or single SQL Server)
It won't cope with a dispersed DAG type environment
You also do need to install the NetBackup Clients on the server in question (using the appropriate service accounts) and the Symantec Shadowcopy Provider
So yes simple - but it has limitations and does need some setup
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The VMware policy can protect any type of Exchange installation. Exchange 2007 CCR clusters along with Exchange 2010 DAG nodes. By default it will protect the active Databases on the given VMguest. There is a technote out there if you prefer it protect the passive copies of a DAG instead of the active copies.
As far as I know grt backups does not support backup to tape.
If you want to do a GRT browse or restore, the image has to be duplicated back to disk. Or you can perform your backup to disk and the execute a "bpduplicate -bc_only" command (this builds the GRT catalog) and then duplicate it to tape. Your Exchange catalog will now contain all of the GRT data.
Hi All,
I've implemented this, and to get GRT restores to work from a v-sphere GRT backup for a DAG, you need to do the following:
The restores are carried out as normal exchange restores via the LAN - so the master must be able to see cas and mbx servers over the lan (through firewalls - via backup networks etc).
The image is mounted on a CAS server via NFS presented from the media server, and the NBU client know how to pull the exchange mails from the vsphere backup image (if GRT info was collected).
Also DNS must be really solid (short, long and reverse should all work)
Images can be stored on tape (there is a box somewhere to check on master server properties to preserve the GRT info in the image), but can only be restored from DSU/MSDP and some OST Storage units (Quantum DXi - yes/ Data Domain - no)
This looks pretty good. I would like to make 2 additional points.
1) For VMware policies, there is no GRT option or check-box to select in the policy. With a VMware backup, Exchange and SharePoint automatically collect GRT information if either is checked for application protection on the vmware tab.
2) Unlike a normal Exchange policy, Client for NFS is not required to be installed on all mailbox or CAS servers during backup. No NFS interaction is done until you browse or perform a restore. And in that case, these operations may only take place on the CAS server (if you set your destination client to a CAS). So it is conceivable that you only need to install NFS requirement on the CAS servers. Does that make sense?
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