ADSM-L

Re: ADSM/Exchange/Connect Agent

1999-09-28 09:50:17
Subject: Re: ADSM/Exchange/Connect Agent
From: "Monks, Phil" <PMONKS AT LOUKY DOT ORG>
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 09:50:17 -0400
Many thanks,

Phil


Phillip M. Monks, Database Administrator
City Of Louisville
Department Of Technology
pmonks AT louky DOT org
502-574-3608

> ----------
> From:         Jordan, Chris (ELS)[SMTP:c.jordan AT ELSEVIER.CO DOT UK]
> Reply To:     ADSM: Dist Stor Manager
> Sent:         Tuesday, September 28, 1999 4:01 AM
> To:   ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
> Subject:      Re: ADSM/Exchange/Connect Agent
>
> The other reason to use the Connect Agent for backup is what it does to
> the
> Exchange database. If you shut down Exchange, and then do an "off-line"
> backup of the Exchange files, then you just get a dump of the bits. These
> can be used to do a restore, but yuou never quite know until Exchange
> starts
> up whether the bits will be in the right order or not.
>
> When you use the Connect Agent, then it uses a Microsoft API that reads
> every page of the database through the database structure. This therefore
> checks the integrity of the database every time you do a backup (any
> errors
> it encounters will be shown in the NT Event Log). You also do not need to
> shut the database down in order to take a backup.
>
> The Connect agent is also used to keep the Exchange transaction log files
> in
> order. Every change to the Exchange database (message created, read, sent
> etc.) is recorded in the transaction logs. This means that if you restore
> the database, and re-play the log files, then you can get back to the
> point
> of the crash, rather than loosing messages between the last backup and the
> point of the crash. The Connect Agent ensures that the log files are
> deleted
> when they are no longer needed (i.e. when the transactions in the log
> files
> have been backed up). Similarly it correctly handles database changes that
> happen while the backup is going on.
>
> If you want to know more, take a look at the Exchange Disaster Recovery
> white paper somewhere on Microsoft.com/Exchange or on Technet.
>
> Cheers, Chris
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Remeta, Mark [mailto:MRemeta AT SELIGMANDATA DOT COM]
> Sent: 27 September 1999 19:30
> To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
> Subject: Re: ADSM/Exchange/Connect Agent
>
>
> OK, I'll bite.
>
> A connect Agent is required b/c the exchange information store and
> directory
> are actually database files that are open all the time so they cannot be
> backed up by a conventional backup program. You could shutdown all the
> Exchange services and then do a normal (it's called offline) backup but
> Exchange would be unavailable during this time. As far as restoring
> individual mailboxes this is not supported by Microsoft API calls at this
> time. The prescribed method to restore an individual mailbox is to restore
> the IS to another server and extract the contents of the mailbox to a
> personal folder (PST) that can then be opened on the client workstation
> and
> imported into his mailbox. With Exchange 5.5 there is a new feature that
> let's you keep copies of deleted files for n days that should help with
> individual messages being accidentally deleted but will not help you if a
> mailbox is accidentally deleted.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Mark
>
>
> >  -----Original Message-----
> > From:         Monks, Phil [mailto:PMONKS AT LOUKY DOT ORG]
> > Sent: Monday, September 27, 1999 12:41 PM
> > To:   ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
> > Subject:      ADSM/Exchange/Connect Agent
> > Importance:   High
> >
> >
> >       We are running ADSM Server 3.1.2.40 on AIX with most of the
> Clients
> > @ 3.1.0.7.  We also have Exchange 5.5. running on NT using ADSMConnect
> > Agent 1.1 for M/S Exchange.
> >
> >
> >       I'm hoping someone can give me  an understandable explanation of:
> >
> >       1)      Why a special connect agent is required to backup M/S
> > Exchange Server?
> >
> >       2)      Is there any simple method (short of duplicating the
> > exchange server) to restore a single mail box and/or user if
> accidentally
> > deleting.
> >
> >       Any information/suggestions would be much appreciated.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Phillip M. Monks, Database Administrator
> > City Of Louisville
> > Department Of Technology
> > pmonks AT louky DOT org
> > 502-574-3608
>
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