SMB + Exchange Server 2003 backup: Paragon or ShadowProtect?

Hey, all.

I was running through my first server installation, and the guy who came in told me that it would be impossible for MS Backup to run a backup of my exchange server files (if the server goes down, I want to have a local copy on-hand for restore).

Does Paragon or ShadowProtect cover Exchange Server? Or is there another program which does?

Thanks.

-HF

 

Huh? Maybe that 'guy' should go out again, never to return. The built-in NTBackup most certainly does backup Exchange.

Both Paragon and StorageCraft have server editions of their imaging products, as do some other imaging software manufacturers. The server versions cost much more than their desktop equivalents, though. As the desktop versions do not support the Exchange APIs necessary to perform a consistent Exchange backup, especially when you have the Exchange transaction logs on a different spindle to the Exchange data store (which is the best approach), they will often not produce image backups that can properly restore Exchange.

In any case, you can't restore Exchange from an image backup just by copying back files.

If you are performing image backups of a server running Exchange, one way to give yourself the opportunity to restore only the Exchange data (and to fix Exchange, when necessary, after a full image restore) is to also perform an NTBackup 'system state backup' just before (or after) the image backup, using the same backup device. Then you can run through a traditional Exchange restore at a later time as and when needed.

 

Then does it make sense to buy either of these products?

I only need the data backed up nightly, mostly because my employer feels that if anybody should leave, that all the data that they created during their time here be stored on our servers.

 

paragon link
i think the videos explain it well enough.
lodore

 

Well, that brings up loads of issues. If you want only to save data, then you don't need an imaging product. Use NTBackup instead - it works, it's free.

But then I need to ask, why don't you want to image your server? Do you understand how to restore a Domain Controller (DC)? It's not like restoring a desktop, especially if you want to do it in a way that doesn't severely affect the client workstations.

If you want data saved on the server, use Group Policy to redirect users' (My) Documents folders to the server. Put a company policy in place which requires users to store their data on the server.

Your questions seem to suggest you're not at all experienced with servers. With all due respect, call in a specialist and get the job done correctly. You and your boss will be glad you did in the long run. Cut corners now and you'll regret it.