Exchange Server 2010 and System Center Data Protection Manager 2010
When using System Center Data Protection Manager 2010 to protect an Exchange Server 2010 solution there are four essential steps that need to occur in order for the backup to be successful.
1) Volume shadow copy is made of the Exchange data on the host where the backup is initiated.
2) The data on the shadow copies is transferred to the Data Protection Manager server.
3) All Exchange log files and database files in the backup set have an optional consistency check performed.
4) Backup complete is performed allowing for log truncation activities (if applicable).
Step #1: Create shadow copies
Data Protection Manager 2010 performs three different types of shadow copy backup operations against an Exchange 2010 server. The type of shadow copy performed is dependent both on the job settings and the configuration of the Exchange installation.
The three types of shadow copies performed:
1) Full Shadow Copy
The full shadow copy is performed as part of initial replica creation and during each express full backup. The full shadow copy will include all Exchange log files and all Exchange database files and includes a call for log truncation to occur upon successful backup completion. Full shadow copies will occur on all standalone databases, and on selected database copies if the Exchange Server is in a Database Availability Group configuration. (Only a single copy of a database in a DAG may be enabled for full shadow copy).
2) Incremental Shadow Copy
The incremental shadow copy will as part of continuous protection of the mailbox database. The incremental shadow copy will include all Exchange log files and includes a call for log truncation to occur upon successful backup completion. Incremental shadow copies can occur on all standalone databases and on selected database copies if the Exchange Server is in a Database Availability Group configuration. (Only a single copy of a database in a DAG may be enabled for incremental shadow copy – selection is inherited by the copy enabled for full shadow copy and cannot be specified separately).
3) Copy Shadow Copy
The copy shadow copy is performed on selected database copies if the Exchange Server is in a Database Availability Group configuration. The copy shadow copy will be performed on initial replica creation and during each express full backup. A copy backup includes all Exchange log files and all Exchange database files but does not call for log truncation to occur upon successful full backup. (The databases selected for this operation could be all or none of the copies not enabled for full shadow copy).
The creation of shadow copies is the first part of an Exchange backup using DPM 2010. An administrator would expect the shadow copy process to complete quickly. The creation of the shadow copies must be successful in order for the backup process to continue.
For a Full Shadow Copy (standalone) the administrator may note the following events in the application log :
Index: 1
Time: 11/29/2010 8:28:04 AM
ID: 9606
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 7a595f8f-2a18-4f1a-a68d-aa3757ba6c3e) has prepared for backup successfully.
Index: 2
Time: 11/29/2010 8:28:07 AM
ID: 2005
Level: Information
Source: ESE
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Information Store (3596) Shadow copy instance 4 starting. This will be a Full shadow copy.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Index: 3
Time: 11/29/2010 8:28:07 AM
ID: 9811
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 4) has successfully prepared the database engine for a full or copy backup of database 'MBX-1-DB0'.
Index: 4
Time: 11/29/2010 8:28:07 AM
ID: 9608
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 7a595f8f-2a18-4f1a-a68d-aa3757ba6c3e:4) has prepared for Snapshot successfully.
Index: 5
Time: 11/29/2010 8:28:07 AM
ID: 2001
Level: Information
Source: ESE
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Information Store (3596) Shadow copy instance 4 freeze started.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Index: 6
Time: 11/29/2010 8:28:07 AM
ID: 2001
Level: Information
Source: ESE
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Information Store (3596) MBX-1-DB0: Shadow copy instance 4 freeze started.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Index: 7
Time: 11/29/2010 8:28:07 AM
ID: 9610
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 7a595f8f-2a18-4f1a-a68d-aa3757ba6c3e:4) has frozen the database(s) successfully.
Index: 8
Time: 11/29/2010 8:28:07 AM
ID: 2003
Level: Information
Source: ESE
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Information Store (3596) Shadow copy instance 4 freeze ended.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Index: 9
Time: 11/29/2010 8:28:07 AM
ID: 9612
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 7a595f8f-2a18-4f1a-a68d-aa3757ba6c3e:4) has thawed the database(s) successfully.
Index: 10
Time: 11/29/2010 8:28:08 AM
ID: 9622
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 7a595f8f-2a18-4f1a-a68d-aa3757ba6c3e:4) has processed the post-snapshot event successfully.
For an Incremental Shadow Copy (standalone) the administrator may note the following events in the application log:
Index: 0
Time: 11/29/2010 8:49:39 AM
ID: 9606
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 7d3e1a06-76ce-4b12-a313-98edd703705a) has prepared for backup successfully.
Index: 1
Time: 11/29/2010 8:49:42 AM
ID: 2008
Level: Information
Source: ESE
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Information Store (3596) Shadow copy instance 8 starting. This will be an Incremental shadow copy.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Index: 2
Time: 11/29/2010 8:49:42 AM
ID: 9812
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 8) has successfully prepared the database engine for an incremental or differential backup of database 'MBX-1-DB0'.
Index: 3
Time: 11/29/2010 8:49:42 AM
ID: 9608
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 7d3e1a06-76ce-4b12-a313-98edd703705a:8) has prepared for Snapshot successfully.
Index: 4
Time: 11/29/2010 8:49:42 AM
ID: 2001
Level: Information
Source: ESE
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Information Store (3596) Shadow copy instance 8 freeze started.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Index: 5
Time: 11/29/2010 8:49:42 AM
ID: 2001
Level: Information
Source: ESE
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Information Store (3596) MBX-1-DB0: Shadow copy instance 8 freeze started.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Index: 6
Time: 11/29/2010 8:49:42 AM
ID: 9610
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 7d3e1a06-76ce-4b12-a313-98edd703705a:8) has frozen the database(s) successfully.
Index: 7
Time: 11/29/2010 8:49:43 AM
ID: 2003
Level: Information
Source: ESE
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Information Store (3596) Shadow copy instance 8 freeze ended.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Index: 8
Time: 11/29/2010 8:49:43 AM
ID: 9612
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 7d3e1a06-76ce-4b12-a313-98edd703705a:8) has thawed the database(s) successfully.
Index: 9
Time: 11/29/2010 8:49:44 AM
ID: 9622
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 7d3e1a06-76ce-4b12-a313-98edd703705a:8) has processed the post-snapshot event successfully.
For a Full Shadow Copy (Database Availability Group / Active Mailbox Database Copy hosted on server MBX-2) the administrator may note the following events in the application log:
Index: 20
Time: 11/29/2010 9:04:39 AM
ID: 2021
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Machine: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Message: The Microsoft Exchange VSS Writer has successfully collected the metadata document in preparation for backup.
Index: 21
Time: 11/29/2010 9:04:40 AM
ID: 9606
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 714e46f9-22ee-4b8a-a1d6-92bc6c84083c) has prepared for backup successfully.
Index: 22
Time: 11/29/2010 9:04:43 AM
ID: 2005
Level: Information
Source: ESE
Machine: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Message: Information Store (3360) Shadow copy instance 2 starting. This will be a Full shadow copy.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Index: 23
Time: 11/29/2010 9:04:43 AM
ID: 9811
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 2) has successfully prepared the database engine for a full or copy backup of database 'DAG-DB0'.
Index: 24
Time: 11/29/2010 9:04:43 AM
ID: 9608
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 714e46f9-22ee-4b8a-a1d6-92bc6c84083c:2) has prepared for Snapshot successfully.
Index: 25
Time: 11/29/2010 9:04:43 AM
ID: 2001
Level: Information
Source: ESE
Machine: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Message: Information Store (3360) Shadow copy instance 2 freeze started.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Index: 26
Time: 11/29/2010 9:04:43 AM
ID: 2001
Level: Information
Source: ESE
Machine: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Message: Information Store (3360) DAG-DB0: Shadow copy instance 2 freeze started.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Index: 27
Time: 11/29/2010 9:04:43 AM
ID: 9610
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 714e46f9-22ee-4b8a-a1d6-92bc6c84083c:2) has frozen the database(s) successfully.
Index: 28
Time: 11/29/2010 9:04:44 AM
ID: 2003
Level: Information
Source: ESE
Machine: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Message: Information Store (3360) Shadow copy instance 2 freeze ended.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Index: 29
Time: 11/29/2010 9:04:44 AM
ID: 9612
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 714e46f9-22ee-4b8a-a1d6-92bc6c84083c:2) has thawed the database(s) successfully.
Index: 30
Time: 11/29/2010 9:04:45 AM
ID: 9622
Level: Information
Source: MSExchangeIS
Machine: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Message: Exchange VSS Writer (instance 714e46f9-22ee-4b8a-a1d6-92bc6c84083c:2) has processed the post-snapshot event successfully.
For a Copy Shadow Copy (Database Availability Group / Passive Mailbox Database Copy hosted on server MBX-3) the administrator may note the following events in the application log:
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:01:21 AM
Event ID: 2021
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange VSS Writer has successfully collected the metadata document in preparation for backup.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:01:25 AM
Event ID: 2110
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange VSS Writer instance 95661579-1ddb-4826-9e0a-a0ceed92a2aa has successfully prepared for a full or a copy backup of database 'DAG-DB0'. The following database will be backed up: DAG-DB0.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:01:25 AM
Event ID: 2023
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange Replication service VSS Writer (Instance 95661579-1ddb-4826-9e0a-a0ceed92a2aa) successfully prepared for backup.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS Mailbox Store
Date: 11/29/2010 6:01:35 AM
Event ID: 9539
Task Category: General
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange Information Store database "09067c7d-64f6-4b2a-aa91-aca0229c2025: /o=Exchange/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Configuration/cn=Servers/cn=MBX-1/cn=Microsoft Private MDB" was stopped.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:01:35 AM
Event ID: 2027
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange VSS Writer instance 95661579-1ddb-4826-9e0a-a0ceed92a2aa has successfully frozen the databases.
Log Name: Application
Source: ESE BACKUP
Date: 11/29/2010 6:01:35 AM
Event ID: 960
Task Category: General
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
msexchangerepl (2228) This computer is performing a surrogate backup. The master server is MBX-2.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:01:35 AM
Event ID: 2025
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange Replication service VSS Writer (Instance 95661579-1ddb-4826-9e0a-a0ceed92a2aa) successfully prepared for a snapshot.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:01:35 AM
Event ID: 2027
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange VSS Writer instance 95661579-1ddb-4826-9e0a-a0ceed92a2aa has successfully frozen the databases.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:01:36 AM
Event ID: 2029
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange VSS Writer instance 95661579-1ddb-4826-9e0a-a0ceed92a2aa has successfully thawed the databases.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:01:37 AM
Event ID: 2035
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange Replication service VSS Writer (Instance 95661579-1ddb-4826-9e0a-a0ceed92a2aa) has successfully processed the post-snapshot event.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:03:37 AM
Event ID: 2114
Task Category: Service
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
The replication instance for database DAG-DB0 has started copying log files. The first log file copied was generation 187.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS Mailbox Store
Date: 11/29/2010 6:03:37 AM
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: General
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
Attempting to start the Information Store "DAG-DB0".
Log Name: Application
Source: ESE BACKUP
Date: 11/29/2010 6:03:41 AM
Event ID: 963
Task Category: General
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
msexchangerepl (2228) The surrogate backup procedure to MBX-2 has been successfully completed.
For a Full Shadow Copy (Database Availability Group / Passive Mailbox Database Copy hosted on server MBX-2) the administrator may note the following events in the application log:
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:18:17 AM
Event ID: 2021
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange VSS Writer has successfully collected the metadata document in preparation for backup.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:21:26 AM
Event ID: 2110
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange VSS Writer instance 06f76857-2e99-436a-baa1-c0336c7f918c has successfully prepared for a full or a copy backup of database 'DAG-DB1'. The following database will be backed up: DAG-DB1.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:21:26 AM
Event ID: 2023
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange Replication service VSS Writer (Instance 06f76857-2e99-436a-baa1-c0336c7f918c) successfully prepared for backup.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS Mailbox Store
Date: 11/29/2010 6:21:29 AM
Event ID: 9539
Task Category: General
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange Information Store database "8c319775-6c8b-4780-b90f-81a6ac63714d: /o=Exchange/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Configuration/cn=Servers/cn=MBX-1/cn=Microsoft Private MDB" was stopped.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:21:29 AM
Event ID: 2027
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange VSS Writer instance 06f76857-2e99-436a-baa1-c0336c7f918c has successfully frozen the databases.
Log Name: Application
Source: ESE BACKUP
Date: 11/29/2010 6:21:29 AM
Event ID: 960
Task Category: General
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
msexchangerepl (2356) This computer is performing a surrogate backup. The master server is MBX-3.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:21:30 AM
Event ID: 2025
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange Replication service VSS Writer (Instance 06f76857-2e99-436a-baa1-c0336c7f918c) successfully prepared for a snapshot.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:21:30 AM
Event ID: 2027
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange VSS Writer instance 06f76857-2e99-436a-baa1-c0336c7f918c has successfully frozen the databases.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:21:31 AM
Event ID: 2029
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange VSS Writer instance 06f76857-2e99-436a-baa1-c0336c7f918c has successfully thawed the databases.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:21:31 AM
Event ID: 2035
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange Replication service VSS Writer (Instance 06f76857-2e99-436a-baa1-c0336c7f918c) has successfully processed the post-snapshot event.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:21:34 AM
Event ID: 2114
Task Category: Service
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
The replication instance for database DAG-DB1 has started copying log files. The first log file copied was generation 194.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS Mailbox Store
Date: 11/29/2010 6:21:34 AM
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: General
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
Attempting to start the Information Store "DAG-DB1".
Log Name: Application
Source: ESE BACKUP
Date: 11/29/2010 6:23:35 AM
Event ID: 963
Task Category: General
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
msexchangerepl (2356) The surrogate backup procedure to MBX-3 has been successfully completed.
For a Copy Shadow Copy (Database Availability Group / Active Mailbox Database Copy hosted on server MBX-3) the administrator may not the following events in the application log:
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeRepl
Date: 11/29/2010 6:56:39 AM
Event ID: 2021
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
The Microsoft Exchange VSS Writer has successfully collected the metadata document in preparation for backup.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 6:56:40 AM
Event ID: 9606
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance 266b4cbc-3c4f-4e0d-891f-ad18193b80f4) has prepared for backup successfully.
Log Name: Application
Source: ESE
Date: 11/29/2010 6:56:42 AM
Event ID: 2009
Task Category: ShadowCopy
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
Information Store (3220) Shadow copy instance 2 starting. This will be a Copy shadow copy.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 6:56:42 AM
Event ID: 9811
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance 2) has successfully prepared the database engine for a full or copy backup of database 'DAG-DB1'.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 6:56:42 AM
Event ID: 9608
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance 266b4cbc-3c4f-4e0d-891f-ad18193b80f4:2) has prepared for Snapshot successfully.
Log Name: Application
Source: ESE
Date: 11/29/2010 6:56:43 AM
Event ID: 2001
Task Category: ShadowCopy
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
Information Store (3220) Shadow copy instance 2 freeze started.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Log Name: Application
Source: ESE
Date: 11/29/2010 6:56:43 AM
Event ID: 2001
Task Category: ShadowCopy
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
Information Store (3220) DAG-DB1: Shadow copy instance 2 freeze started.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 6:56:43 AM
Event ID: 9610
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance 266b4cbc-3c4f-4e0d-891f-ad18193b80f4:2) has frozen the database(s) successfully.
Log Name: Application
Source: ESE
Date: 11/29/2010 6:56:43 AM
Event ID: 2003
Task Category: ShadowCopy
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
Information Store (3220) Shadow copy instance 2 freeze ended.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 6:56:43 AM
Event ID: 9612
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance 266b4cbc-3c4f-4e0d-891f-ad18193b80f4:2) has thawed the database(s) successfully.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 6:56:44 AM
Event ID: 9622
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-3.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance 266b4cbc-3c4f-4e0d-891f-ad18193b80f4:2) has processed the post-snapshot event successfully.
Step #2: Transferring shadow copy data to the DPM 2010 server
After the successful creation of shadow copies the data in the shadow copy volume is transferred to the DPM 2010 server. (Note: If the protection method is to tape instead of to disk – Step #2 and Step #3 are reversed). The data is transferred via the network connection between the Exchange server hosting the shadow copy data and the DPM 2010 server.
The amount of data to be copied to the DPM server depends on the type of backup performed.
For a Full Shadow Copy <or> a Copy Shadow Copy that is the initial replica creation the data transfer to the DPM server will include all log files at the time of backup initiation and the full database.
For a Full Shadow Copy <or> a Copy Shadow Copy that is an express full backup the data transfer to the DPM server will include all log files and delta changes to the database from the initial replica creation or previous express full backup.
For an Incremental Shadow Copy the data transfer to the DPM server will include all log files.
The amount of time that the transfer to the DPM server takes is largely dependent on the size of the data set to be transferred, performance of the hosts involved, and performance of the network.
DPM 2010 does allow the administrator to optimize the performance of the protection group by enabling a setting to allow on the wire compression. This setting is not enabled by default.
Once the data has been successfully transmitted to the DPM 2010 server the backup can proceed to the next step.
Step #3: Running consistency check
After the data has been streamed to the DPM 2010 server the process of consistency checking can begin. (Note: If the protection method is to tape instead of disk – Step #2 and Step #3 are reversed. Consistency checking is then performed on the Exchange Server hosting the shadow copy storage rather then the DPM 2010 server).
Consistency checking in DPM is completely optional and can have the following three settings:
Disabled
Enabled – Log Files Only
Enabled – Database and Log Files
We do have some recommendations on how consistency checking is utilized. If the Exchange Server 2010 mailbox database is standalone, it is recommended that both log file consistency check and database consistency check be performed. This assumes that DPM 2010 is the primary recovery method for this database. If the Exchange Server 2010 mailbox database is hosted in a Database Availability Group, it is recommended that only the log files be consistency checked. This assumes that the DAG is the primary recovery method for this database.
The consistency check will verify the integrity of the log files and the database files that reside on the DPM server. Should a consistency check be performed, and a corruption be identified, the backup will be considered failed.
By copying delta data sets to the DPM 2010 server, and performing consistency check on the DPM 2010 server itself, the performance impacts associated with consistency checking are offloaded from the Exchange Server itself. (Note that this assumes protection to disk rather then protection to tape). The consistency check on the DPM 2010 server is achieved by using eseutil.exe and ese.dll from your Exchange installations. It is important that administrators ensure that the highest version of these two binaries exists on the DPM 2010 server. For example, if when DPM was originally installed the administrator was using Exchange Server 2010 RTM and a single mailbox server is upgraded to Exchange Server 2010 SP1 – the binaries for eseutil.exe and ese.dll on the DPM server should be replaced with the Exchange Server 2010 SP1 binaries, since this is the highest revision in use in the protected environment.
The length of time the consistency check takes is largely dependent on the size of the database and the number of log files included in the backup set. Recently we have encountered some customers that have reported DPM backups not completing or not completing in a timely fashion. After reviewing the environments, consistency check was enabled for log files as recommended. In these cases there was a significant number of delta log files due to migrations (circa 100 gig in my reference scenario). In this case we simply worked around this by temporarily disabling consistency checking and allowing the express full backup to complete. Once these logs were truncated and we were back to a “normal” log generation cycle, consistency checking was re-enabled as recommended.
Step #4: Backup complete
At this stage the shadow copies, consistency check, and data transfer have completed successfully. At this time the Exchange writer can be informed that the backup completed successfully. It is also at this time that if a full shadow copy <or> incremental shadow copy was performed that log truncation can occur for logs that are eligible for truncation. This is a very important step, if backup complete is not called by the application future backups are subject to fail with an error that a backup is already in progress. (This may necessitate restarting the Information Store service on order to clear this condition). Please note that log truncation no longer occurs as a part of the backup process, therefore it is not necessary for logs to truncate in order for the backup to be completed successfully. It may be several minutes until the log file truncation is actually processed on the hosts.
A note regarding log truncation…
On a Database Availability Group server there is a 225 event indicating that no log files can be truncated. If careful attention is paid to the event it will be noticed that the source of the event is ESE. This event is expected on a DAG member, since ESE is not responsible for determining which log files in a replicated environment should be truncated.
The following events may be found in the application log regarding the Exchange backup when a Full Shadow Copy <or> Incremental Shadow Copy are performed of a Database Availability Group:
Log Name: Application
Source: ESE
Date: 11/29/2010 7:34:30 AM
Event ID: 225
Task Category: ShadowCopy
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
Information Store (3360) DAG-DB0: No log files can be truncated.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 7:34:30 AM
Event ID: 9827
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance 10105fe3-5935-46dc-8aa8-4edb9ca0cb48:4) has successfully completed the full or incremental backup of replicated database 'DAG-DB0'. The log files will be truncated after they have been replayed.
Log Name: Application
Source: ESE
Date: 11/29/2010 7:34:30 AM
Event ID: 2006
Task Category: ShadowCopy
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
Information Store (3360) Shadow copy instance 4 completed successfully.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 7:34:30 AM
Event ID: 9616
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance 10105fe3-5935-46dc-8aa8-4edb9ca0cb48:4) has processed the backup completion event successfully.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 7:34:31 AM
Event ID: 9648
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance 10105fe3-5935-46dc-8aa8-4edb9ca0cb48:4) has processed the backup shutdown event successfully.
The following events may be found in the application log regarding the Exchange backup when a Full Shadow Copy <or> Incremental Shadow Copy is performed of a Standalone Server:
Log Name: Application
Source: ESE
Date: 11/29/2010 7:39:36 AM
Event ID: 224
Task Category: ShadowCopy
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Description:
Information Store (3596) MBX-1-DB0: Deleting log files c:\MBX-1\MBX-1-DB0\E00000000DF.log to c:\MBX-1\MBX-1-DB0\E00000000E5.log.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 7:39:36 AM
Event ID: 9780
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance 7f301ea2-f4ee-4521-b386-31c159293dcd:11) has successfully completed the full or incremental backup of database 'MBX-1-DB0'.
The database engine has also successfully executed log file truncation procedures for this database. (Note that this may or may not have resulted in the actual truncation of log files, depending on whether any log files existed that were candidates for truncation.)
Log Name: Application
Source: ESE
Date: 11/29/2010 7:39:36 AM
Event ID: 2006
Task Category: ShadowCopy
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Description:
Information Store (3596) Shadow copy instance 11 completed successfully.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 7:39:36 AM
Event ID: 9616
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance 7f301ea2-f4ee-4521-b386-31c159293dcd:11) has processed the backup completion event successfully.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 7:39:38 AM
Event ID: 9648
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-1.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance 7f301ea2-f4ee-4521-b386-31c159293dcd:11) has processed the backup shutdown event successfully.
The following events may be found in the application log regarding the Exchange backup when a Copy Shadow Copy is performed:
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 7:49:23 AM
Event ID: 9781
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance b7990a10-5077-49f7-ad9b-f40e6a92019e:5) has successfully completed the copy or differential backup of database 'DAG-DB0'. No logfiles were truncated for this database.
Log Name: Application
Source: ESE
Date: 11/29/2010 7:49:23 AM
Event ID: 2006
Task Category: ShadowCopy
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
Information Store (3360) Shadow copy instance 5 completed successfully.
For more information, click https://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 7:49:23 AM
Event ID: 9616
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance b7990a10-5077-49f7-ad9b-f40e6a92019e:5) has processed the backup completion event successfully.
Log Name: Application
Source: MSExchangeIS
Date: 11/29/2010 7:49:25 AM
Event ID: 9648
Task Category: Exchange VSS Writer
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: MBX-2.exchange.msft
Description:
Exchange VSS Writer (instance b7990a10-5077-49f7-ad9b-f40e6a92019e:5) has processed the backup shutdown event successfully.
Comments
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
The comment has been removedAnonymous
January 01, 2003
@Hakim Taoussi: Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it. TIMMCMICAnonymous
January 01, 2003
@DareDevil57 Thanks - I'm glad you enjoyed it. TIMMCMICAnonymous
January 01, 2003
Excellent article ! thank youAnonymous
July 25, 2012
Brilliant Blog, thank you for sharing.Anonymous
July 18, 2014
Hi Timmcmic,
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj642923.aspx#BKMK_PGType
From the below, we know"
Express full backups are considered copy-only full backups and do not result in log truncations for applications that support incremental backups." ,
it seems inconsistent with your "The full shadow copy is performed as part of initial replica creation and during each express full backup. The full shadow copy will include all Exchange log files and all Exchange database files and includes a call for log truncation to occur upon successful backup completion"