This has been discussed many times on this list. You can go back
and look at the previous discussions. I have also summarized below.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Comments on Exchange "individual mailbox restore",
or brick-level backups:

* For any backup vendor, backing up Exchange servers at the
  item-level has inherent problems:
  - It just doesn't scale well. We have heard customers that run
    item-level backups 24-hours a day, 7 days a week just to
    keep up with the backups.
  - It puts additional resource strain on the production servers.
  - It duplicates the data. You still need database level backups.
    If you back up at the item-level, you back up your data a second time.

* Microsoft has recognized the need to restore deleted items and has
  been providing some features in Exchange to address it. They are:
  - Built in function for "Deleted Item Restore" which can be
    configured to keep items within the Exchange Server databases
    even after they have been deleted, so that they can be
    restored at a later time.
  - Built in function for "Deleted Mailbox Restore" which can be
    configured to keep mailboxes within the Exchange Server databases
    even after they have been deleted, so that they can be
    restored/reconnected at a later time.
  - Built-in functionality in Exchange 2003 called the
    Recovery Storage Group. It enables you to restore a
    database to a special storage group and then use tools
    to extract out what you want. This can all be done without
    disrupting the production servers.

* There are 3rd-party tools available that advertise that they
  can do item-level restores from a database-level backup. Some
  customers are looking at this to address the need.
  Data Protection for Exchange has a new function called RESTOREFILES,
  that allows you to restore the backup files to an alternate
  directory to allow you to use those 3rd party tools.

* If customer's still feel it is necessary to do this for a
  subset of users, they can do it using the TSM BRICKBACK
  (ExMerge) approach. It is a two-step procedure from the
  TSM perspective, but it does have some advantages:
  - Optionally keeps a local copy of the .PST file for very
    quick restores
  - Utilizes the advanced subfile backup function within the
    TSM BA client to make the backups more efficient.

----------------------------------------------------

Del Hoobler
Tivoli Storage Manager Development
IBM Corporation



"ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU> wrote on 02/09/2006
11:13:54 AM:

> Hello,
>
>
>
> I would like to verify the answer to a question I have regarding
> Tivoli's TDP v5.x for Exchange and Exchange2000 (or Exchange 2003)
> servers.  Our environment is AD, with Window 2000 member servers running
> exchange 2000 (or Exchange 2003).
>
>
>
> I am pretty sure that this TDP is ONLY used to backup the "on-line"
> Information Store(s) database (Priv & Pub) and NOT used to backup the
> individual's mailbox or what is called "Brick Level" .  Is this correct?
> Or can this TDP be used to backup and restore a user's individual's
> mailbox
>
>
>
> In short: can is be used for brick level backup & restore.
>
>
>
> Thank you.
>
> Tony