About snapshot backups with Exchange Server
NetBackup for Exchange Server includes support for snapshot backups. NetBackup for Exchange Server can back up and restore Exchange objects by taking snapshots of the component files. Data is captured at a particular instant. The resulting snapshot can be backed up without affecting the availability of the database. These snapshots are backed up to tape or to the storage unit.
A separate Snapshot Client license provides additional features for snapshot backups. You can configure the snapshot image for Instant Recovery and you can configure an alternate client to perform the snapshot backup.
NetBackup for Exchange supports the Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) for creating a snapshot image. The actual VSS provider that is used is dependent on your hardware environment and software environment. A list of the VSS providers available for use with NetBackup for Exchange Server is available.
See the Snapshot Client Compatibility List.
The following Snapshot Client features are available for use with NetBackup for Exchange Server:
Snapshot backup | A snapshot is a disk image of the client's data. NetBackup backs up the data from the snapshot volume, not directly from the client's original volume. Client operations and user access are allowed to continue without interruption during the backup. |
Instant Recovery | NetBackup supports Instant Recovery backups for non-clustered and non-replicated environments. Instant Recovery requires a separate Snapshot Client license. Makes the backups available for recovery from the local disk. The snapshot can also be the source for an additional backup copy to tape or other storage. To perform an Instant Recovery, one of the following methods is used:
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Off-host backup | Shifts the burden of backup processing onto a separate backup agent, reducing the backup impact on the client's computing resources. The backup agent sends the client's data to the storage device. NetBackup supports off-host backups of Exchange using an alternate client in non-clustered and non-replicated environments. Off-host backups require a separate Snapshot Client license. NetBackup also supports off-host Instant Recovery backups. |