Installation guide

4.2 Advanced scenario - CDP of an Exchange cluster

This section gives an example of backing up multiple Exchange servers that are integrated into a

cluster. Let's see how to leverage the advanced features: Continuous Data Protection (CDP), express

full backup, and data deduplication.

 To be able to revert Exchange data to any custom point in time, we will use the CDP backup

scheme (p. 23). In this scheme, you specify when to perform full backups. In addition, the

transaction log files are backed up automatically as soon as they are closed by Exchange. In our

case, assume full backups will be performed every night.

 To create full backups faster and for them to occupy much less space, we will do full backups to a

deduplicating vault by using the express full backup method (p. 25). With this method, the

software backs up only the changes that have occurred since the previous full backup. Since the

unchanged data is already stored in the deduplicating vault, the software only adds a reference

to the unchanged data.

 To relieve the production server from the load associated with backup operations, we will

configure the software to back up the cluster data from any of its passive database copies. If

none of the passive copies are available at the moment, we allow the software to back up the

active database copy.

As for recovery, let's consider a case, where you need to quickly recover a lost or corrupted Exchange

database to the state that it was just before the failure. To allow users to access their e-mails while

the Exchange database is still being recovered, we will use Acronis Active Restore (p. 39).

4.2.1 Prerequisites

Make sure that:

 You have machines running the supported versions of Microsoft Exchange Server (p. 7).

 You have one of the supported Exchange cluster configurations (p. 47).

 For each node of the cluster, you have a license that enables installation of Agent for Exchange

(p. 6).

 The Exchange writer for VSS is turned on.

 You downloaded the setup program of Acronis Backup Advanced.

 You have a machine running Windows that will act as the management server. The management

server enables configuring of Exchange cluster backup.

 You have a machine running 64-bit Windows that will act as the storage node. The storage node

serves as storage for backups of other machines and enables deduplication. Make sure this

machine meets the system requirements described in the installation documentation.

4.2.2 Installation

Installing the management server

1. On the machine that will act as the management server, log on as an administrator and start the

setup program.

2. Click Install Acronis Backup. Accept the terms of the license agreement.

3. Select the Centrally monitor and configure the backing up of physical and virtual machines

check box.

4. Type your license keys or import them from a text file.