Hello, I am testing a couple of cases so I needed to configure servers (all servers are running VMware 4.0) following below. Sinario: Windows 2008 64 bit : 2GB of RAM: (xxx.local) Domain Naming Master, Schema Master, PDC Emulator, Infrastrucre Master, Global Catalogue Server Windows 2003 64 bit : 2GB of RAM: (win2k3-mail) Exchange 2007 Server (Evaluation) - Joined to xxx.local Windows 2008 64 bit : 3GB of RAM: (win2k8-mail) Exchange 2007 Server (Evaluation) - Joined to xxx.local I wanted to test Stanby Continuos Replication to replicate both mailboxes and public folders and use windows 2003 64bit ntback to backup window 2008 exchange information store since windows 2008 doesn't come with any exchange aware backup utility. Problem: From win2k8-mail exchange console, I could see both mailboxes (win2k3-mail and win2k8-mail) are mounted though from win2k3-mail exchange console, mailbox status "unknown" in win2k8-mail. Below error message: -------------------------------------------------------- Microsoft Exchange Warning -------------------------------------------------------- The following warning(s) were reported while loading topology information: get-MailboxDatabase Completed Warning: ERROR: Could not connect to the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service on server exchange02.xxx.local. One of the following problems may be occurring: 1- The Microsoft Exchange Information Store service is not running. 2- There is no network connectivity to server exchange02.xxx.local. 3- You do not have sufficient permissions to perform this command. The following permissions are required to perform this command: Exchange View-Only Administrator and local administrators group for the target server. 4- Credentials have been cached for an unpriviledged user. Try removing the entry for this server from Stored User Names and Passwords. I have confirmed 1. both of "Exchange Information Stores" and exchange associated services (hub transport, system attendant etc) are running, 2. checking network connectivity using the latest Best Practice Analyzer and no error (I could see both servers are running) 3. Permissions are set correctly and both server are looking at the same configuration domain controller (right click on the Organization and Server configurations) 4. Domain administrator uses UPN (administrator@xxx.local) to logon to both server 5. I checked there is no entry in Stored User Names and Passwords. Sending and receiving emails are working ok though when it comes to backup Information Store on win2k3, I could see both of Exchange Servers in the tree but if I try to select win2k8, an Error Dialogue box appears " The specfied computer is not a Microsoft Exchange server or its Microsoft Exchange services are not started". Please tell me how to troubleshoot those problems, I will appreciate any solutions. Thanks in advance,

Hello, I didn't explain well in the last message. Quote: >Sending and receiving emails are working ok though when it comes to backup Information Store on win2k3, I could see both of Exchange Servers in the tree but if I >try to select win2k8, an Error Dialogue box appears " The specfied computer is not a Microsoft Exchange server or its Microsoft Exchange services are not started". Of course I am not able to do this, I needed to follow below procedure to backup win2k8 Information Store by ntbackup 1) Load up a Windows 2003 x64 system. The x64 part is important, as you should be running Exchange on a x64 platform (unless you are using an Itanium), and you must use matching binaries for this. I used a Virtual Machine for this. 2) Copy the ntbackup.exe, ntmsapi.dll, and vssapi.dll from C:\windows\system32 into a new folder. 3) Burn the new folder you created containing the copied files to a CD, or copy it to USB drive. You can also copy it over the network to your Windows 2008/Exchange 2007 Server to skip the next step. 4) Copy the folder from the CD or USB drive to your Windows 2008/Exchange2007 server. 5) Launch Ntbackup.exe. Select the Information Stores as you would normally under NTBackup and start your backup. Akira Sekine

You are working to old information. Exchange 2007 SP2 introduced support for backup of Exhcange using native tools - the built in backup application. Therefore the unsupported hacks for NTBACKUP are not required. Although if you want to backup to tape, you will need to use third party tools - I usually use Backup Assist as it is cheap and works well. Simon.Simon Butler, Exchange MVP. http://blog.sembee.co.uk , http://exbpa.com/

Hello Simon, Thank you for your comment. I was not aware of SP2 and might have been working with old material. The technology goes really first hard to keep up with...@@; I will download to see what new features are. But before doing that, I need to solve my first question. thank you, Akira

Hi Akria, Are the two exchange servers have same version installed? Open EMC, and check the version of mailbox servers. Have you disabled Windows Firewall on server 2008?

Hello, You can go for SP3 which is released for E2k7 :) and you can go for any backup software which support VSS. Arun Kumar | MCSE - 2K3 + Messaging | ITIL-F V3

Hello Gen, Thanks for your comment. I have checked both exchange servers are running on the same version (Version 8.1 (Build 240.6) and I have disabled Firewall on both exchange servers and Domain Controller and rebooted all the servers though I am getting the same error. I ran Exchange Best Practice Analyser (Permission check), the program recognised both servers with no error. (I ran BPA on both servers). kind regards, Akira

Hello Arun, Thanks for your comment. I will install SP3 and System Center Data Protect Manager to give a try. kind regards, Akira