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In this article I will show you how to backup and restore your Exchange Server databases with Windows Server 2003 built-in free backup tool - NTBackup. For complete Exchange 2003 backup and recovery, please read on this article.
NTBackup is the built-in backup application introduced in Windows NT around 1997 and part of all subsequent versions up to and including Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. It uses a proprietary backup format (BKF) (also known as "Microsoft Tape Format" or MTF) to back up files. Files can be backed up to tape, ZIP drives, floppy disks, and hard drives. It also features integration with Task Scheduler and has several command line switches for scheduled automated backups.
In Windows Vista and Windows 7, NTBackup was replaced by Windows Backup and Restore, which uses the Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) file format, supports backup to modern media such as DVDs and image-based full system backups.
For server operating systems, Microsoft has replaced NTBackup with Windows Server Backup beginning with Windows Server 2008, which includes the new wbadmin command. This new backup application, wbadmin, no longer supports tape drives, which means that users have to install third-party applications to back up to tape on these new operating systems.
NTBackup features:
It is possible to backup Exchange Online or Offline. The recommended method is to Backup the Exchange Server Online.
Online backup - An online backup is performed while the Information Store is still mounted and the Exchange Server is operational. The Exchange is Online and available for transactions, therefore it still allows users to work without interruption.
Offline backup - Offline backup is performed by shutting down the Exchange Information Store service and performing COPY procedures on the Exchange databases (Public Folder or Mailbox stores). Using an Offline Backup provides a method to restore the Exchange system to its last known state or specific "point in time", and is usually considered to be less attractive than the Online backup.
An online backup can backup the Exchange Server databases without the interruption of Exchange services. An offline backup is a simple copy of the Exchange database files, the Exchange Information store must be stopped before NTBackup can be used to backup your Information store.
To perform an online backup of Exchange 2003 on Windows Server 2003 follow these steps:
1. Click Start, point to Run, type NTBackup and press Enter.
2. If the Backup or Restore Wizard appears, on the Welcome to the Backup or Restore Wizard window, click Advanced Mode.
3. Click on the Backup tab.
4. Expand Microsoft Exchange Server on the Backup tab, expand servername, expand Microsoft Information Store, select the correct storage group's check-box or the entire information store check-box.
Tips: It can only backup an entire storage group rather than individual stores.
5. Set the storage destination.
6. click Start Backup button. In Backup Job Information window make sure you have your settings right. You can also click on the Schedule button to backup Exchange 2003 every day, every week or every month. You can also press the Advanced button on and select the backup type: normal backup, copy backup, incremental backup, differential backup or daily backup.
7. Click Start Backup button to backup Exchange 2003 now in the Backup Job Information window.
After a successful exchange backup, it is possible to do an Exchange Server restore in case of emergency. You must ensure that the Exchange database store to restore is not mounted. You can dismount a Exchange database store in the Exchange System Manager by right clicking the database.
To perform an online restore of Exchange 2003 on Windows Server 2003 follow these steps:
1. Click Start, point to Run, type NTBackup and press Enter.
2. If the Backup or Restore Wizard appears, on the Welcome to the Backup or Restore Wizard window, click Advanced Mode.
3. Click on the Restore and Manage Media tab.
4. On the Restore and Manage Media tab, expand the catalog file that holds the backup you wish to restore. Select the specific Exchange database store you wish to restore.
5. After selecting the correct Exchange database store, click on the Start Restore button and click on the Ok button to start Exchange 2003 restore on the Confirm Restore window.
Although Windows built-in free backup utility - NTBackup can backup Exchange Server database, but Windows Server 2008 built-in Windows Server Backup cannot backup Exchange Server database, so you need third-party Exchange backup software to backup Exchange Server database.
EaseUS Todo Backup Advanced Server is the professional Windows Server backup software to backup and restore Exchange Server 2007, 2003, 2010. It can easily restore exchange to the original location and save disk space with overwriting the original files. It ensures business continuity by way of backing up the Exchange server.
1. NTBackup built-in Windows Server 2003 can backup Exchange Server database.
2. NTBackup built-in Windows Server 2000 can backup Exchange Server database.
3. Windows Server Backup built-in Windows Server 2008 cannot backup Exchange Server database.
4. EaseUS Todo Backup can backup Exchange 2003/2007/2010 under Windows Server 2000/2003/2008.
If you have Exchange Server and SQL Server to backup, EaseUS Todo Backup is the good alternative. Download it to free try now.
Detialed steps refer to SQL backup and restore and Exchange backup and restore
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