How to backup and restore repository disk with adb files?

[Jrouzies]

Hello,

I'm searching through the net and posts and didn't find anything particular.

We run Veeam O365 backup, and on top of it we would like to backup the disk were it does the backups, to another server.

I tried something as simple as:

1. Stop Veeam 365 services
2. Copy Repository content (folders with years and abd files insides)
3. Go to the other server, run Explorer for Exchange, and open one of the adb. files directly:

> its emtpy, it fails to list any mailbox under the ADB files (even they are big).

What am I missing?

Thank you

[Mildur]

If you can, create the backup with a veeam agent or vmimage backup (vbr) with application aware processing. This way, you have a consistent backup of all necessary files (adb database and vbo365 configuration database). That‘s the recommended way to create a copy of the vbo data.
You are able to restore the data directly from the vbr server that way.
You can find more about what you need to backup here:

https://bp.veeam.com/vbo/guide/design/3-2-1.html

If you need the data right now from the backup, it would be best to check the procedure with veeam support and why the adb files are empty.

[Jrouzies]

Hello Mildur,

Thanks for your reply and the link, very useful.

Is it necessary to backup the whole server, or can I just backup the disks have the config (C:), and the disk containing the ADBs? As we have other backup disks we do not want to backup.

Also I have 2 disks with ADBs (2 repositories), and I only wish to backup one. Wondering if this could be problematic or not for the restore.

I will do a test anyway with VBR.

Thanks

[Mildur]

Happy to help.

It should work. But I always backup the entire vm.
You can try it with a new backup job. Choose Disk C:\ and the disk with the needed backup Repo.
After the backup, you can start a application restore from the vbr for the vbo365 data. If it works for the needed data, then everything is working.

[Polina]

Hi All,

As you can see from KB2649, technically it's possible to simply copy your repository databases to a new location:

4. Copy the backup repository data to the backup repository location on the new server.

[Jrouzies]

Hello,

At this step:

8. Restore Points created on the original Veeam Backup for Microsoft Office 365 server can be accessed by right-clicking the corresponding organization.

The server I used to copy already had Veeam 365 installed, I copied the repository and added to Veeam 365. But then nothing, the "backups / restore points" do not exists on this Veeam server.

Don't they miss a step like copy the backup ConfigDB or something?

[Polina]

Once you add the copied repository to a new VBO instance, configuration files should be updated automatically.
Please open a call with support to troubleshoot and share your case ID here.

[Jrouzies]

So for VBR:

1. I did a first backup with only the data, obviously it didnt work, I had only the option to Explore Application with SQL, or guest files.
2. I then added the C:\ disk, ran backup again (incremental) > same issue, it just shows SQL explorer

PS: the Veeam 365 server ALSO has VBR installed on it (it is responsible of a different AD Site), and I run the VBR backup from another server on another site.
Could this cause any issues to have VBR deployed next to VBO?

I will retry to do a full backup.

For copying the data following KB:

1. I removed Veeam 365 config on new server
2. I added organization
> I didn't do the step to move proxy, as I want to suppose my VBO server is dead
3. I copied my repo, added new repo on this location

Then nothing, no backups or restore points appear.

I don't have a support case yet, for now I just wanted to know the process and make some tests.