This is just a thought, we are using vmware ESX enterprise, so have not used the products below...and some scripting capability would be required (which was easy to find on MS site)...
So...... Why not use vmware server http://www.vmware.com/products/free_virtualization.html or ms virtual server http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/ scripting http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/scripts/vs/default.mspx?mf r=true on both machines host 1 => guest 1 = DC + GC host 2 => guest 2 = DC + GC guest 3 = exchange server Stop guest 1 and backup image file ( to host 2 disk) restart, then backup to tape Stop guest 2 and backup image file ( to host 1 disk) restart, then backup to tape Use NTbackup on guest 3 daily to backup exchange server to tape. Weekly, shutdown exchange server backup image file to tape and restart. Cost is 2 more windows server licences Having the images virtualised means no hardware issues in-case the whole server needs to be replaced, not just the HD Expand the deleted items retention as suggested (it only costs disk space..) Cheers Dean -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brett Fernicola Sent: Saturday, 14 July 2007 00:19 To: Exchange Discussions Subject: I need some advice on a good Exchange Backup - Restore Solution. Hi, I have been looking for a good quick easy self automated backup solution for small exchange shops that I have been doing consulting work for. My goal is to find a product that can backup an Exchange Server completely including the OS state, System State, Exchange data and all files. I want this backup to be a complete working disk image that I could use to restore the server with in case of complete Hard Drive failure. I also want to be able to start these backups while the server is still Online and running in windows and processing email. Then eventually schedule all this to do a backup once a week thus not needing any admin intervention. So far I have tried Acronis, and it works great when used booted from a boot cd, but running Live from windows is not always pretty. I have the latest version and I've seen it completely lock windows. I also use bat files to shut down (netlogin, File Replication, and Exchange) before the backup is run. I also turn on VSS support and tell Acronis to do an entire C: Partition image backup to a file and to save it on an external HD. I dry run tested my backup and restore procedure by trying to restore a server to another extra identical HD I had lying around. After I restored the Exchange Server I tested it on, which is also an additional Domain Controller and Global Catalog, the system did boot but it had problems. In my event log I saw an error that said "Active Directory was restored using an unsorted method and in result the Netlogon Service was Stopped." So I checked Netlogon and sure enough it was stopped and will not start on a reboot. Now If I manually started netlogon and then ran a dcdiag everything seemed to check out fine. Email was working, Authentication was fine, OWA, and even SYSVOl replication was working smoothly. However if you reboot this server in its restored state it will not work until Netlogon is fired back up. So a simple bat file can fix this but should not be necessary. So my question I pose is how do I properly backup and restore a small Primary Domain Controller and small Exchange Server which is also an additional domain controller + Global catalog. How good is NTBACKUP, and what is the correct method of doing a backup and restore with a NTBACKUP image. Any thoughts, comments and software recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Brett Fernicola [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________________________ List posting FAQ: http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq.htm Web Interface: http://intm-dl.sparklist.com/read/?forum=exchange To subscribe: http://e-newsletters.internet.com/discussionlists.html/ To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Exchange List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe via postal mail, please contact us at: Jupitermedia Corp. Attn: Discussion List Management 475 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10016 Please include the email address which you have been contacted with. ********************************************************************** Have you clicked on yet? www.nrc.govt.nz ********************************************************************** NORTHLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. 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