PSTs increase the overall backup significantly. The PSTs could be 5 - 10
times the size of the exchange infostore.

We do use our long term backups regularly and have run into a number of
problems using the whole DB. OS level of the restore server, SP level of
exchange, log file problems on the starting of the IS and very long restore
times for 40Gb db from DLT7000. A lot of things can happen over a three year
retention period.

Backing up the PSTs may be a decent idea if your DBs are not that large or
you can spare the space.

Duane




-----Original Message-----
From: David Smith [mailto:davidsm AT BSR.COM DOT AU]
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 5:16 PM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: Re: Month End Strategies (TDP for Exchange)


I assume that a month end backup will be used to restore individual mail
items/boxes where required sometime down the track.  How about using ExMerge
(sp?) to create .PST files once a month and archive them?  Should make
restoration much easier as well as being a simple task to create and track
the archives.

Dave


        -----Original Message-----
        From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager on behalf of Wayne Prasek
        Sent: Wed 3/31/2004 3:20 AM
        To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
        Cc:
        Subject: Month End Strategies (TDP for Exchange)



        I'm wondering what the best strategy to get a month end backup of
        Exchange going.  We would like to keep the backup for an indefinite
        amount of time (most likely a few years).  The backup tape(s) will
be
        sent offsite.  Currently we have a nightly backup of Exchange which
        expires after 30 days.

        I have a couple ideas on how to accomplish this.  I want to hear
what
        other people are doing.   Thanks in advance.

        *******************************
         Wayne Prasek
         I.T. Support Analyst (Server)
         204-985-1694
         Wprasek AT mpi.mb DOT ca
        *******************************