Exchange Agent

Using the UltraBac Exchange Agent, Exchange versions 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016 can be backed up online without stopping the services prior to backup. If the Exchange services are not running, the backup will not be successful.

Setup and Configuration

NOTE:  The UltraBac Exchange Agent must be installed on the server hosting Exchange.

 

The Microsoft Exchange Tools must be installed on the Backup Host.

 

The UltraBac Exchange Agent does NOT support circular logging.

 

NOTE:  For more information on enabling streaming backup support in Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SP1, please see the UltraBac Knowledge Base:

 

UBQ000254:  Enabling Streaming Backup Support in Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SP1

 

 

An UltraBac account ("Tools"/"Options"/"General"/"Accounts") must have sufficient privileges to run an Exchange backup and restore. These permissions are defined through the Exchange System Manager, which must be installed on the UltraBac host system in order to perform backups.

 

To check permissions in Exchange 2007:

 

  1. Open the Exchange Management Console.

  2. Highlight the Exchange Organization Configuration node.

  3. If the UltraBac account is not listed, right click on "Organization Configuration" and select "Add Exchange Administrator."

  4. When the Add Exchange Administrator Wizard appears, click "Browse" and select the UltraBac user account.

  5. Ensure that "Exchange Organization Administrator" role is selected and click "Add."

 

To check permissions in Exchange 2010:

 

  1. Open the Exchange Management Console.

  2. Go to the toolbox and open the "Role Based Access Control User Editor."

  3. Click on Organization Management. If the UltraBac account is not listed, click on "Details," scroll down to “Members” and click the UltraBac users, then click the “OK” button.

  4. On the Role Group page, click “Save.”

 

To check permissions in Exchange 2013 and 2016:

 

  1. Open the Exchange Admin Center.

  2. Go to “Permissions” / “Admin Roles.”

  3. Click on Organization Management.

    • If the UltraBac account is not listed, click on "Details," Scroll down to “Members” and click the UltraBac users, then click the “OK” Button.

  4. On the Role Group page, click “Save.”

Creating an Exchange Agent Set

After confirming all Exchange permissions are set, create a backup set:

 

  1. Launch the Backup Wizard by selecting the Backup tab, and clicking "New."

  2. Click "Exchange Agent" to highlight the option, and click "Next."

  3. Enter the name of the Exchange server or click "Discover" to have UltraBac search for it.

 

ub_agents_exchange_servername.jpg

Fig. 1 - Exchange Server Information.

 

  1. Select the Exchange server to be backed up.

  2. Select the type of Exchange backup to be performed:

 

ub_agents_exchange_backupoptions.jpg

Fig. 2 - Exchange backup options.

 

NOTE:  The "Use Volume Shadow Copy Service" must be used in Exchange 2010 and 2013.

 

  1. Enter the description for the backup set as it will appear in the backup log. Click "Next."

  2. At the Backup Wizard summary, click "Finish."

 

ub_agents_exchange_fileviewer.jpg

Fig. 3 - Viewing Exchange servers in the File Viewer.

Restoring an Exchange Server - Exchange 2007/2010/2013/2016

NOTE:  To restore an Exchange database, the restore target system must have the same version, service pack, and hotfix level of Exchange installed. If restoring to an alternate Exchange server, the "site" and "organization" must be the same as the original Exchange host.

 

NOTE:  To restore an Exchange database to the same location as the original, the Recovery Storage Group must first be removed after the database has been unmounted or the restore will attempt to overwrite the Recovery Storage Group.
Preparing the Exchange 2007 Server for Restore

  1. Open the Exchange Management Console.

  2. Expand the Server Configuration node and select a mailbox.

  3. In the main window, select a database to restore.

  4. Right click the database and select “Dismount."

 

NOTE:  It is highly recommended to move the log files to a separate location so that the log files can be replayed if needed.

 

  1. Clear the contents of the mailbox store folder.

  2. Right click the database again and select "Properties."

  3. In the "Properties" dialog, check “This database can be overwritten by a restore” and click "OK."

  4. Repeat for all databases to be restored.

 

NOTE:  If the Exchange 2007 server environment is utilizing the Exchange 2007 High-Availability options (LCR, SCR, or CCR), the restore process is different than a standard Exchange 2007 restore. For additional information on Exchange 2007 SCR / CCR Restores, please see the UltraBac Knowledge Base:

 

UBQ000257:  Exchange 2007 SCR / CCR Restores

 

NOTE:  UltraBac can restore the Mailbox Store to a recovery storage group in order to recover individual mailboxes. For additional information on Exchange 2007 Support and Using the Exchange 2007 Recovery Storage Group, please see the UltraBac Knowledge Base:

 

UBQ000250:  Exchange 2007 Support

UBQ000265:  Using the Exchange 2007 Recovery Storage Group
Preparing the Exchange 2010 Server for Restore

  1. Open the Exchange Management Console.

  2. Expand the Organization Configuration node and select a mailbox.

  3. In the main window, select a database to restore.

  4. Right click the database and select “Dismount."

 

NOTE:  It is highly recommended to move the log files to a separate location so that the log files can be replayed if needed.

 

  1. Clear the contents of the mailbox database folder

  2. Right click the database again and select “Properties."

  3. In the "Properties" dialog, check "This database can be overwritten by a restore" and click "OK."

  4. Repeat for all databases to be restored.

 

NOTE:  There may be times in which you will need to restore a single mailbox. For additional information on Single Mailbox Restore with Exchange 2010 Recovery DB, please see the UltraBac Knowledge Base:

 

UBQ000259:  Single Mailbox Restore with Exchange 2010 Recovery DB
Preparing the Exchange 2013 or 2016 Server for Restore

  1. Open the Exchange Admin Center.

  2. Go to "Servers"/"Databases.".

  3. Select the database to restore.

  4. Press the "..." icon and chose “dismount."

 

NOTE:  It is highly recommended to use the option to copy the old log files to a separate location so that the log files can be replayed if needed.

 

  1. Repeat for all databases to be restored.

 

NOTE:  There may be times in which you will need to restore a single mailbox. For additional information on Single Mailbox Restore with Exchange 2013 Recovery DB, please see the UltraBac Knowledge Base:

 

UBQ000275:  Single Mailbox Restore with Exchange 2013 Recovery DB
Restoring the Exchange Database

After preparing the server for restore, begin the restore process:

 

  1. Launch the Restore Wizard by selecting the Restore tab, and selecting the index source.

  2. Select the objects for restore. During ALL restore operations, the Exchange logs MUST be selected.

  3. Click "Action"/"Restore this Backup."

  4. To restore the Exchange database to the original location/server, click "Next" at the "General Restore Options" screen.

  5. At the "Restore Options" screen, click "Restore."

Restoring Exchange to a "Flat File"

To restore an Exchange database as a flat file:

 

  1. Check "Restore Files to Non-Exchange Folder."

  2. Type in or browse to the target location.

  3. Click "Next."

  4. Click "Restore."

 

ub_agents_exchange_restoreoptions.jpg

Fig. 4 - Restoring an Exchange backup to a flat file.

 

NOTE:  If the original Exchange server is not online, then the flat file restore will fail with an Error 10061. For additional information on Exchange Flat File Restore if Original Exchange Server offline, please see the UltraBac Knowledge Base:

 

UBQ000263:  Exchange Flat-File Restore if Original Exchange Server Offline