Hi All, We currently have an Exchange 2007 env. running on Server 2008. The mailbox database is currently setup with LCR enabled onto an external HDD. If the main drive of my server decided to fail, would I be able to restore the exchange mailbox database from the replicated database on the external HDD (we'd obviously need to rebuild the server)? We have 2 Exchange servers running over 2 different sites, so the Exchange configuration should be safe, it's just the email I'm concerned about. Until Exchange 2007 SP2 is released, we'll be unmounting the databases every weekend to do external tape backups. Or any advice on other methods of backup (that doesn't involve purchaseing extra software) will be greatly received! Thanks in advance, Matt

hi,you can restore your database from LCR or from your external HDD.maybe you can use Data Protection Manager 2007 to prpotect your Exchange Server...and here is good article about dpm 2007 and Exchange server;http://www.msexchange.org/articles_tutorials/exchange-server-2007/monitoring-operations/continuous-backup-exchange-server-dpm-2007-part1.htmlregards,Mumin CICEK | Exchange - MVP | www.cozumpark.com | www.mumincicek.com

Per my knowledge, we shall be able to use the replicated database on external HDD. Why we need to rebuild the server since we have LCR enabled? Managing Local Continuous Replication DPM would be a good option for backup, but since you said not involve extra software. So, I think there are not many other methods except those you have already used Since you said that there are 2 exchange servers on 2 sites, did you enable SCR between them? If not, it would be another good option for backup

Hi Mumin/James Thanks for your advice. DPM is definately a good option, as we have this in the MAPS pack, but it requires a stand alone machine which we don't have. I'd only have to rebuild the server if it completely crashed and needed to be rebuilt. If that was the case, would all the settings (includeing the storage group settings) be replicated over from the second server? Could I then remount the LCR'd database from the external hard drive? I've not really looked into SCR - I'll read up on it now

Q: I'd only have to rebuild the server if it completely crashed and needed to be rebuilt. If that was the case, would all the settings (includeing the storage group settings) be replicated over from the second server? Whats the second server here? If the server is crashed, we can rebuild the server with /m:RecoverServer switch Almost all the settings for a computer running Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 are stored in the Active Directory directory service. The /m:RecoverServer switch rebuilds an Exchange server with the same name and settings, using the information in Active Directory Understanding Setup /M:RecoverServer

Hi Matt,I agree with James' suggestion to create a CCR configuration between two sites. This will not only give you the fault tolerance but also the ability to stand by till you install SP2 for backing up the databases using windows backup tool. In your current setup, you have LCR enabled on a server and if the server crashes you can certainly rebuild it using /M:RecoverServer switch but only if the server is completely broken down. In case of a database distaster you will not really need to rebuild the entire server and the LCR copies would help you instantly. As already described, you have 2 sites running exchange 2007 MBX servers; then why not simply go with CCR configuration for highest availability?MMilind Naphade | MCTS:M | http://www.msexchangegeek.com

Since we can use the /M:RecoverServer switch to rebuild the server...Is there any point in using Windows Server Backup (W2K8) to back up anything? i.e. System State.------------------------------------------------------------------Since it (currently) cannot backup up the database, I am thinking of the entire C: drive, for example, in a scenario where we have our DB and logs on separate drives (D and E for example).I was looking at this article:http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa997709.aspxIt looks like you would need to exclude (besides the DB, of course):\TransportRoles\data Butit is not possible to exclude (or backup) particular folders and files in Windows Server Backup.

Please wait for exchange 2007 SP2, and then we can use the backup tool on the windows server 2008 to backup the exchange

Yep, as said in my previous post as well. You will have to wait till SP2 arrives. As far as you are looking for an option to backup the directories, it will not work I believe. These files are having open handles on them and are in open state so the backup tool on win2k8 will not back them up assuming that they are being used by another program.MMilind Naphade | MCTS:M | http://www.msexchangegeek.com

Although it may only have anecdotal value, since this was a test server with practically ZERO activity, I was able to perform a Full System backup from the GUI in Windows 2008 Standard. No errors. Windows claims backup was successful.(Moreover, I was able to restore from this image and Exchange was functional, to the extent the DB mounted and I could access mail via OWA.)But probably only since activity was nil, I avoided the problems you would normally have ifyou tried to backup and restore a production machine this way.

I think you will find that ONLY if Exchange 2007 SP2 + rollup 4 is running upon Server 2008 and not Windows Server 2003 64 will LCR work with DMP 2007.I'd like to be wrong on this .CheersOut_theBack