MS Exchange backup

The minimal backup unit for MS Exchange is a database.

For MS Exchange, database files and logs are backed up. If the backup session completes successfully, the logs on the Exchange server are truncated.

Limitation

  • Exchange Database Availability Groups (DAGs) and replica databases are not supported
  • Server configuration is not backed up

Preparing the system for backup

Before you start backing up MS Exchange, please make sure your system is properly configured (this is done just once unless the settings get reset in the future).

Disable circular logging before you start backing up MS Exchange. This is necessary to keep the database consistent and prevent the loss of recent messages.

  1. Start your Exchange management utility:
    • Microsoft Exchange for Exchange 2000 and 2003
    • Exchange Management Console for Exchange 2007
    • Exchange Management Console for Exchange 2010
    • Exchange Admin Center (EAC) for Exchange 2013
  2. In the console tree, expand the server object you need:
    • Exchange 2000 and 2003: System Manager > Server
    • Exchange 2007: Server Configuration > Mailbox
    • Exchange 2010: Organization Configuration > Mailbox
    • Exchange 2013: Servers > Databases
  3. Open the properties of the storage group you are going to back up:
    • In the Microsoft Exchange and Exchange Management Console, right-click the storage group and choose Properties from the context menu
    • In the Exchange Admin Center, click the storage group and then click the Edit icon above
  4. Deselect the Enable circular logging checkbox (if it is selected)
  5. Click to apply the changes
  1. Open the Start menu. Run Command Prompt (cmd.exe)
  2. Execute the following command:

    vssadmin list writers

  3. When the list of writers is ready, find the "Microsoft Exchange Writer" entry. Make sure its state is "Stable" and "Last error" is set to "No error"
  1. Start your Exchange management utility
  2. In the console tree, expand the server object you need:
    • Exchange 2010: Organization Configuration > Mailbox
    • Exchange 2013: Servers > Databases
  3. In the work pane, check if the status of the databases from this mailbox server is "Mounted"