NetBackup for Exchange backup types
This topic describes the types of backups you can schedule for backups of Exchange Server.
Table: NetBackup for Exchange backup types
Type of backup | Description |
|---|---|
Full backup | This schedule type backs up the Exchange Server database and associated transaction logs. Exchange truncates all committed transaction logs after NetBackup notifies it that the backup succeeded. In replicated environments, the truncation is scheduled and does not occur immediately. By default, transaction logs are not truncated for Instant Recovery backups. You can enable the truncation of logs for this type of backup or you can perform a backup to a storage unit. See About truncating Exchange transaction logs with Instant Recovery backups. See Truncating Exchange transaction logs by performing a backup to a storage unit. |
Differential incremental backup | Includes the changes since the last full or differential incremental backup. After NetBackup notifies it that the backup succeeded, Exchange truncates all committed transaction logs. The truncation of the transaction logs sets the context for the next backup. For backups of databases or the entire Information Store, the backup only includes the transaction logs. Individual items cannot be restored for this type of backup if is enabled. To perform a full restore the data that is needed is contained in multiple NetBackup images. One image for the full backup and another image for each differential incremental that was performed. |
Cumulative incremental backup |
Includes the changes since the last full backup or differential incremental backup. (However, most configurations do not mix cumulative and differential incremental backups between full backups.) Exchange does not truncate the logs when the backup is completes. When a series of cumulative incremental backups follows a full backup, transaction logs remain intact since the last full backup. For backups of databases or the entire Information Store, the backup only includes the transaction logs. Individual items cannot be restored for this type of backup if is enabled. Consider an Exchange Server data recovery scenario where the transaction logs are all intact. You only need to restore the database from the last full backup and the last cumulative-incremental backup. During recovery, Exchange Server replays all the logs that are in the log folder. |
User backup | A user backup is not automatically scheduled and is initiated on the target client computer. It is like a snapshot (or a copy backup) of the databases at a given point in time. This backup does not affect the content of ongoing full and incremental backups. You may want to consider creating a separate policy for user backup schedule types. Then you can easily separate user-directed and scheduled backups when you restore files. If you decide to create separate policies for user backup schedule types, the considerations are similar to those for automatic backups. A backup selections list is not needed because users select the files to restore. |