Performing user-directed snapshot backups of Exchange Server

To perform a user-directed snapshot backup, a policy must exist on the server that is configured for snapshot backups. This policy must also have a User schedule. Exchange 2010 users can back up a DAG, the Information Store, or a database. Exchange 2007 and earlier users can back up the Information Store or a storage group. Transaction logs are also backed up. However, transaction logs are not truncated for user-directed backups.

Note:

For Exchange 2003 pre-SP1, a user-directed backup also truncates the transaction logs.

When Enable granular recovery is enabled in the backup policy, you can later restore individual mailbox and public folder items from the backup.

To perform a user-directed snapshot backup of Exchange Server objects

  1. Mount any databases that you want to back up.

  2. Open the Backup, Archive, and Restore interface.

    For a Database Availability Group (DAG), you must initiate the user backup operation from the node where the DAG virtual name is active (online).

  3. Click Actions > Specify Policy and Schedule.

  4. In the Backup Policy and Schedule box, type the name of the Snapshot Client policy.

  5. Click File > Select Files and Folders to Backup.

  6. If you are in a cluster environment, specify the name of the virtual Exchange Server or the DAG virtual name.

  7. In the All Folders pane, select the objects you want to back up.

    See Table: Selecting Exchange database objects for user-directed backups.

    Note the following:

    • For an Exchange 2010 Database Availability Group (DAG), you cannot select a specific server in the Backup, Archive, and Restore interface from which to perform the backup. If you want to use a specific server, specify it in the Preferred server list.

      All databases in the DAG, regardless of what server they reside on, are displayed.

    • For Exchange 2007 or earlier backups of individual storage group databases, you must select all the databases in the storage group. If you do not select all the databases, the backup job fails.

  8. Click Actions > Backup.

  9. In the Backup Files dialog box, click Start Backup.

  10. To view the progress of the backup, click Yes.

    If you do not want to view the progress of the backup, click No.

Table: Selecting Exchange database objects for user-directed backups

Exchange version

Node

Objects to back up

Exchange 2010 DAG

Microsoft Exchange Database Availability Groups

DAG

All databases in the DAG

Exchange 2010 standalone server

Microsoft Information Store

Microsoft Information Store

All databases

Exchange 2007 and 2003

Microsoft Information Store

Microsoft Information Store

Storage groups

All databases

More Information

Specifying the server and client for a Exchange Server backup operation

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