Data protection strategies for Exchange

Unitrends allows a wide variety of data protection strategies for Exchange. One of the most important decisions an Exchange administrator has to make is deciding the specific data protection strategy to be employed.

Unitrends uses technology that enables Exchange protection without requiring that Exchange be taken offline. We protect all Exchange data, including individual databases, storage groups, mailboxes, and the public folder, with full and differential backups or full and incremental backups (version 7.5 and higher).

Exchange incremental backup

Beginning in release 7.5, Exchange protection includes support for incremental backups. Exchange incrementals offer the following benefits:

     Incrementals can run more quickly and frequently than differentials since they include only the changes since the last successful full or incremental backup. This enables you to meet more aggressive RPOs than with differentials, which contain all changes since the last full backup.

     Upon completion of a successful incremental, unneeded transaction log files are automatically truncated, freeing space on the Exchange server. Automatic log truncation does not occur with Exchange differentials.

The following requirements must be met for Exchange incrementals:

     Unitrends appliance must be running version 7.5 or higher.

     Windows agent must be version 7.5 or higher.

     Exchange version must be 2007 or higher. For a complete list of supported versions, see the Unitrends Compatibility and Interoperability Matrix.

     Differentials and incrementals cannot be in the same schedule.

     A full backup must be in the schedule. The incremental forever strategy is not supported.

Migrating from full with differentials to full with incrementals

To incorporate log truncation in your backup schedules, you can migrate from full with differentials to full with incrementals. You can keep all existing schedule settings while changing from differentials to incrementals.

Once you have migrated your schedule, your next backup is automatically promoted to a full backup.

To migrate from full with differentials to full with incrementals

1        In the left Navigation pane, expand the desired Exchange server by clicking the arrow to its left.

2        Select the Exchange instance mail icon, then click Backup.

3        Select the Schedule Backup tab.

4        In the Schedule Name field, select the desired schedule from the drop-down list.

5        Select the calendar icon. This displays a calendar view of your schedule.

6        Select the differential. This displays the Modify Backup window.

7        In the drop-down list, change the type from Exchange Differential to Exchange Incremental.

8        Select Confirm. This takes you back to the calendar view.

9        Select Confirm. This takes you back to the schedule screen.

10    Select Save.

Consider the following when determining the optimal data protection strategy for your environment:

Primary factor

Strategy

Your tolerance of data loss is measured in a day or more

Use a weekly Exchange full backup with either daily differential or daily incremental backups.

See Exchange incremental backup for details on running incremental backups, including benefits and requirements.

Your tolerance of data loss is measured in minutes or hours

If your tolerance for data loss is 8 hours or more, then use a weekly Exchange full backup with several differential or incremental backups each day. If your tolerance for data loss is 8 hours or less, then use a weekly Exchange full backup with more frequent differential or incremental backups.

See Exchange incremental backup for details on running incremental backups, including benefits and requirements.