Hi,
        Here is what I have found to be "FACT" from M.S. They do not =
support
Brick Level layer backup, simply because ALL 3rd party vendor's DO NOT =
use
M.S.'s MAPI for the brick's. They all use their own version as a =
gentleman
stated in past e-mails. However, They "Do" support "ONLINE" backups =
with any
3rd party vendors software. WHY? because they all use M.S.'s MAPI to do =
it.

        So this only leaves us to backup up PST files, and do restore-
import - copy over (or copy up) to existing user mail box.

So, to answer your question:  Since you can not do Brick level
backup/restores, you should at least backup the PST files. and no, you =
do
not have to restore the entire Info Store.  Now TSM says to do an =
"entire
duplicate Exchange server build" in order to recover your mail.=20

Here is what M.S. has suggested. Schedule CMD files with the "AT =
command (or
WinAT)" to use EXmerge utility (Exchange resource kit). Export them to =
a PST
file, import them into a personal folder and copy up the data needed. =
Now
you can get as fancy as you want with the CMD files and piping them to =
a TXT
file for Exmerge and what it is doing (makes for a good Exchange Admin =
log).

Keep in mind though. Not only do you need enough H.D.D. space for the
offline defrags but you also need to have enough H.D.D. space for the =
PST
files. How much? Well if your database is 4 gb? then you need at least =
that
amount to run defrag plus (if you are using Exmerge on entire Exchange
server mailboxes) 1.5(x's) the space for the exported PST's. All =
together
(doing the math), using the 4gb base #, you will need 10gb of free =
space, in
order to do all this. Yes, also keep in mind  that the PST files can be =
kept
elsewhere AND your Exmerge can be done elsewhere as well as the PST's =
can be
placed on other machine's. If you read up on Exmerge you will know what =
I am
speaking of.

Hope this helps.
Tony

=20