How do I take an online backup of the MS Exchange Server databases?
IDrive provides an easy, secure and reliable way to backup the MS Exchange Server databases to your IDrive account.
To backup your MS Exchange Server,
Log into IDrive desktop application and click the 'Server Backup' tab.
Under 'On-premise MS Exchange Server Backup', click 'Backup'.
Select the mailbox database(s) from the list which appears and specify the local backup location.
Select Online Backup or Local Backup radio button, and click Schedule Now.
Note:
(a) Ensure that the selected temporary folder on the local computer has sufficient free hard drive space to hold the MS Exchange Server backup files. You cannot select a remote location as a temporary location for the MS Exchange Server backup.
(b) Once local backup is initiated, '.ServerBackup' folder is auto created.
Note: Ensure that the selected temporary folder on the local computer has sufficient free hard drive space to hold the MS Exchange Server backup files. You cannot select a remote location as a temporary location for the MS Exchange Server backup.
The 'Schedule backup' screen is displayed where you can schedule the backup for any future day and time or perform an immediate backup of the selected databases.
Note:
On successful backup of the MS Exchange Server databases to your IDrive account, the files are stored in a folder called 'IDriveExchBackupset'. It is not advisable to update or delete files manually as it may interrupt the MS Exchange Server restore operation. Also, avoid using the 'IDriveExchBackupset' as a destination folder for any other backup/ restore operation.
At any given point of time, you can maintain only one backup job named 'IDExchangeServerBkset'.
On completion of MS Exchange Server backup, I see a folder by the name 'IDriveExchBackupset' in my IDrive account. What is it?
'IDriveExchBackupset' is the MS Exchange Backup folder created during the IDrive - MS Exchange Server Backup operation. All your MS Exchange Server backup data is stored in this folder.
Can I add/modify the files in the MS Exchange Backup folder 'IDriveExchBackupset'?
No. It is not advisable to add/modify the files in the MS Exchange Backup folder 'IDriveExchBackupset'. Any modification to files in this folder would impact the MS Exchange Server restore operations.
Does IDrive support cluster backup for MS Exchange Server 2010, 2013 and 2016?
Yes. IDrive supports cluster backup for both Brick-Level Mailbox backup and Database backup in MS Exchange Server 2010, 2013 and 2016.
MS Exchange Server Database backup
If you connect to the cluster Exchange Server, the available databases will appear. You can backup/restore all the cluster Exchange Server databases in one go with IDrive.
MS Exchange Server Brick-Level backup
You can also backup/restore individual mailboxes of different MS Exchange Servers which are connected to the cluster MS Exchange server.
How secure is the data transfer during backup/restore using IDrive - MS Exchange Server Backup?
IDrive transfers and stores data using 256-bit AES encryption, with a user-defined key that is not stored anywhere on the servers. This ensures data is safe and secure.
Can I edit the MS Exchange Server scheduled backup job using IDrive?
Yes, you can edit and update the scheduled backup job using IDrive.
Log into IDrive desktop application and click the 'Scheduler' tab.
Select the backup job 'IDExchangeServerBkset', from the 'Backup set name' dropdown.
Make the required changes using the check-boxes.
Note: At any given point in time, you can maintain only one backup job named 'IDExchangeServerBkset'. This implies that when you try and schedule multiple MS Exchange Server backup jobs with different content, the IDrive - MS Exchange Server Backup job considers only the last created backup set.
Can I remove the MS Exchange Backup folder 'IDriveExchBackupset' from my local computer on completion of the MS Exchange Server backup to my IDrive account?
Yes. You can remove the MS Exchange Backup folder 'IDriveExchBackupset' from your local computer on successful completion of the MS Exchange Server backup to your IDrive account.
How do I restore data back to the MS Exchange Server?
You can restore data from your IDrive account to MS Exchange Server using the IDrive - MS Exchange Server Restore option.
Note:
It is advisable that a qualified database administrator carries out the data restore.
The restore operation overwrites the existing databases on the MS Exchange Server.
Before initiating the restore operation, do take an offline backup of MS Exchange Server databases that need to be restored.
To restore your MS Exchange Server,
Dismount the mailbox store/database and change mailbox database properties.
Steps to dismount database and change mailbox database properties on MS Exchange Server 2013/2016:
Open MS Exchange Control Panel and select the 'databases' in Exchange Admin Center. Select the 'Mailbox' database from 'servers' that needs to be restored and choose the 'Dismount database' from the 'More' option.
Double-click the Mailbox database and choose the 'maintenance' tab from 'Properties' window.
Select the 'This database can be overwritten by a restore' option and click the 'save' button.
Perform steps 'c' and 'd' listed above for all databases that need to be restored.
Note: Once the above mentioned steps are executed, close the 'Exchange Control Panel' before initiating the restore operation.
How do I restore emails from MS Exchange Server using IDrive - MS Exchange Server Restore?
To restore even a single email, you must restore the complete 'Mailbox' store (Database) associated with that particular user. Refer MS Exchange Restore for more details.
In addition, IDrive's Brick-Level Mailbox backup has granular mailbox backup/restore capability. You can use this method for backup/restore emails from/to your MS Exchange Server Mailbox.
Does the Recovery Storage Group cause the MS Exchange Server restore operation to fail?
Yes. The MS Exchange Server restore operation may fail if the Recovery Storage Group is present during restore operation. To resolve this issue, remove the Recovery Storage Group and then perform the restore operation.
Note: It is advisable to take an offline backup of the Recovery Storage Group before deleting it.
Note: To set the File restore for MS Exchange server recovery database, use the following command: Set-MailboxDatabase -Identity <database name> -AllowFileRestore $true
Does IDrive - MS Exchange Brick-Level Mailbox backup require any Mailbox rights to be granted?
To perform MS Exchange Brick-Level backup of 2003 and 2007 Servers, you need to provide appropriate permissions for the mailboxes. Click here to know more on mailbox rights.
How do I perform an MS Exchange brick-level backup?
To perform a brick-level backup,
Log into IDrive desktop application and click the 'Server Backup' tab.
Under the MS Exchange Brick Level section, click 'Backup'.
Select the mailbox(es) that you wish to backup to your IDrive account from the MS Exchange Server.
Select the mailbox database(s) from the list which appears and specify the local backup location.
Select Online Backup or Local Backup radio button, and click Schedule Now.
Note:
(a) Ensure that the selected temporary folder on the local computer has sufficient free hard drive space to hold the MS Exchange Server backup files. You cannot select a remote location as a temporary location for the MS Exchange Server backup.
(b) Once local backup is initiated, '.ServerBackup' folder is auto created.
Note: Ensure that the selected temporary location on your computer has sufficient free space to hold the contents of the individual mailboxes of the MS Exchange Server. You cannot select a temporary location on the remote location.
The 'Schedule backup' screen is displayed where you can schedule the backup for any future day and time or perform an immediate backup of the selected mailbox databases.
What are the minimum System Requirements to perform an MS Exchange – Brick level backup?
The minimum system requirements are as follows:
For MS Exchange Server 2016
x64 architecture-based computer with Intel processor that supports Intel, 64 architecture (formerly known as Intel EM64T), AMD processor that supports the AMD64 platform, Intel Itanium IA64 processors not supported
Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2016
Minimum 8 GB of RAM per server and sufficient space in the hard disk to store the MS Exchange
Server Mailbox backup files
For MS Exchange Server 2013
x64 architecture-based computer with Intel processor that supports Intel, 64 architecture (formerly known as Intel EM64T), AMD processor that supports the AMD64 platform
Windows Server 2012 Standard, Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard with Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise with Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter RTM or later
Minimum 8 GB of RAM per server and sufficient space in the hard disk to store the MS Exchange Server database backup files
For MS Exchange Server 2010
x64 architecture-based computer with Intel processor that supports Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (Intel EM64T) or AMD processor that supports the AMD64 platform
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2) or later or Windows Server 2008 R2
Minimum 2 GB of RAM per server and sufficient space in the hard disk to store the MS Exchange Server Mailbox backup files
I am receiving error messages stating 'The specified module could not be found' / 'ActiveX component can't create object' etc, in the log file during the MS Exchange Server Brick Level-Mailbox backup operation. Why?
These error messages appear if a component required to perform the MS Exchange Brick-Level Mailbox backup is not properly installed. Ensure that the IDrive application is installed correctly. Alternately, follow the steps listed below to register the required component manually.
Does 'MS Exchange Brick-Level Mailbox backup' support full backup or recovery of MS Exchange Server database?
No. IDrive - MS Exchange Brick-Level Mailbox backup is designed to backup individual mailboxes for the selected mailbox stores. It is not a method for the complete backup or recovery of the MS Exchange Server database. To perform the complete MS Exchange database backup or recovery, use the MS Exchange Server backup/restore feature of IDrive.
Is there a need for an additional/external storage volume for 'Exchange Brick-Level Mailbox backup'?
No. However, do ensure that the 'temporary' location that you select while scheduling the 'Exchange Brick-Level Mailbox backup' has sufficient disk space to hold the selected mailbox items, during the backup.
I get a pop-up dialog box requesting for the authentication of mailboxes, while performing the MS Exchange Brick-Level Mailbox backup. Why?
This may happen if you have not granted the required privileges for the mailbox(es) that you wish to backup. Ensure that appropriate Mailbox rights are granted to perform the 'Exchange Brick-Level Mailbox backup' of the selected mailbox(es) using IDrive.
I am receiving an error message stating "Error in IMsgServiceAdmin::ConfigureMsgService: MAPI_E_NETWORK_ERROR" during Brick level backup. Why?
The error message may occur if the default account used to run services is the local service account that does not have any network access rights. To resolve this issue, run the service under a domain account.
Brick-Level backup using IDrive latest version, maintains folder hierarchy with Organizational Unit name in the backup location. Why?
We have enhanced IDrive to support MS Exchange Server Cluster Brick-Level backup. To avoid overlapping of username based PST files from different Organizational Unit during backup, application maintains folder hierarchy with Organizational Unit name.
To avoid multiple copies of PST files in your account, you may rename the previously backed up PST file path to the current backup path.
