Backup source for an Exchange 2010 DAG backup or an Exchange 2007 replication backup

An Exchange 2010 DAG is an environment where each database is active on one server and has zero or more replicated passive copies on other Exchange servers. Exchange 2007 includes the mirroring (replicating) of Exchange databases and logs to a local server with replication enabled (LCR). Or databases and logs can be replicated to a passive node of a Microsoft Cluster with replication enabled (CCR).

The supported backup interface to the DAG or the replicated data is the VSS passive writer. NetBackup allows the user to select which VSS writer is backed up from the Attributes tab in the policy. The client backs up and catalogs as if it were a local snapshot backup. For Exchange 2010, you can also configure a list of preferred servers.

Note:

The Instant Recovery and off-host options cannot be used with a replication or DAG backup.

The backup source for the DAG or replication backup can be defined as one of the following:

Passive copy only (or passive copy from preferred server list

This option backs up the passive copy of a database if the database is all of the following: mounted, included in the backup selections list, and healthy. For an Exchange 2010 DAG, you must also configure a preferred server list. In that case, NetBackup backs up the passive copy on a server in the preferred server list, provided that the database meets the other criteria.

If a database does not have any passive copies, then it is backed up on its active (and only) server. For example, the Public Folder database only has an active copy.

Active copy only

This option backs up the active copy of a database. For Exchange 2010, the preferred server list is ignored.

Passive copy and if not available the active copy

This option backs up the passive copy of a database that is all of the following: mounted, included in the backup selections list, and healthy. For an Exchange 2010 DAG, you can also configure a preferred server list. In that case, NetBackup backs up the passive copy on a server in the preferred server list, provided that the database meets the other criteria. If the passive copy is not available and healthy, NetBackup backs up the active copy.

This option is the default.