Backing up an offline Exchange server - Granular restore?

[boe]

Hello,

I'm evaluating the full version of VEAM and it looks promising. I am not doing something right though as I can't seem to get a granular restore. I have a production host server (HOSTP) with 8 VMs running on it - all online. I have a failover replication server (HOSTF) with all the VMs replicated to it - all of the VMs are offline. I'd like to run the backup on the failover server as it would have zero impact on the performance of the VMs that everyone accesses. I selected all the VMs for backup in one backup job. I went to this link and elected the exchange VM and followed the steps - https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... tml?ver=95 then after the backup I followed this video. https://www.veeam.com/microsoft-exchange-recovery.html I don't seem to be able to do anything but a full backup of any of the VMs. I can't select files from the file server or mailboxes from the exchange server. Is that because I have one backup job to back up all the VMs, or is it because the VMs are offline or is it something else? I have 28 days left to evaluate it but I think I'm sold on it if I can figure out this one issue.

THanks.

[MichaelCade]

Application Aware Image Processing is not possible if the VM is turned off.

The VM will be backed up without VSS, but Veeam will not be aware of it being an Exchange server.

You should also be able to use the File Level Recovery explorer and navigate to the .edb file and open that from within the FLR explorer with the Veeam Explorer for Exchange and perform levels of recovery?

Reference - https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... #explorers

I would advise though a backup to take place on the live system, this way Veeam can make sure you have an Application consitent backup of your exchange system.

[boe]

Very good to know - that might explain my issue. That is a shame as it would be wonderful not to impact the production servers in any way and it could reduce unnecessary network traffic.

[MichaelCade]

Try out the File Level Recovery process I mentioned and if that gives you the SLAs for what you need to recover then great. if not you know you have an option for the live exchange system and to be honest check the impact its not going to cause you any issues during the backup window.

[boe]

Thanks - I read through it and it seems I don't know enough about VEEAM yet to get it working correctly. I'm uninstalling and stating from scratch. Is there more to backing up an exchange server than is mentioned here? https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... tml?ver=95 Perhaps the article you sent doesn't make enough sense to me yet because I haven't been able to do any of the things mentioned in the set up guides as I was backing up an offline replica.

It seems that the focus on the documentation is restoring. It mentions restoring from replicas - I can't find much info on backing up replicas.

[MichaelCade]

I would suggest walking through - https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... tml?ver=95 this will walk you through creating a backup job.

in particular when you get to your exchange system you want to make sure you configure AAIP as mentioned above. mentioned here - https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... tml?ver=95

You probably dont need to start from scratch, Veeam has Backup & Replication both built into the product and although completely possible to do what you have done by taking a backup from a replica, it might not be the most effective in terms of what you actually want to backup and where.

We would always advise you to try and adhere to the 3 2 1 rule explained here - https://www.veeam.com/blog/how-to-follo ... ation.html

[boe]

Thanks I'll read through all of the above if you are saying I can do a granular restore of the exchange server from a replica that would be great. I'm not 100% sure you are saying it is or isn't possible from your response. Can you please let me know if it is possible to do a granular restore of SQL, Exchange and a file server from a replication server? We have 2 replication servers - one on site and one offsite so this would be very interesting to us. I'll just need to decide where to install VEEAM on a host or a VM before I proceed.

[Mike Resseler]

Yes, it is possible to do a granular restore from SQL/ Exchange or a file server from a replication server.

It is also explained here: https://helpcenter.veeam.com/backup/hyp ... overy.html

Cheers
Mike