Exchange 2003 NTBackup always fails.

Hi, Running Exchange Server 2003, I run an online backup every 2 nights using NTBackup, the job succeeds and I can verify by check db properties in systems manager & logs in D:\Exchsrvr\mdbdata.

I have a vm of that server with identical image but each time I attempt to restore using NTBackup it goes ok until I try to mount store, it fails every time with various issues.

During restore I select the *.bkf then Log Files, Mailbox Store & Public Folder Store. I then choose a temp location for log & patch files [D:\Temp\restore]. Last screen I click "Last Restore Set [Log file replay will start after this restore completes]" & "Mount Database after Restore".

I also make sure "allow this database to be overwritten" is checked in systems manager.

It seems I always have a dirty shutdown, can anyone tell me how to not have a dirty shutdown using an online backup?

Regards

Gary

From serverfault gary

• Hi,

  To ensure the database is not in a dirty shutdown state you will need to do an offline backup. THis means that during the backup process Exchange WILL be down. Please see the attached link which is handy for setting NTbackup with exchange: http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Exchange-2003-Backup-Restore-NTBACKUP.html

  Should your backup be in dirty shutdown state and you need to recover, you would need to look at the eseutil tool to get your database back into action. This link explains more about the /R option: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa998075%28EXCHG.65%29.aspx

  Let me know if you get stuck, and I will try to help you more.

  From James

• Hi James, thanks for your suggestions. I now have this operational, I basically moved all *.edb, *stm & log files to another directory leaving "D:\Exchsrvr\mdbdata" empty.

  I ran the NTBackup restore again and both mail & public folder stores mounted 1st time! Not sure thats officially the correct way but it seemed to have worked for me this time.

  Regards

  James : glad i could help :)
  From gary