In this article we’ll look at how to use Windows Server Backup on Windows Server 2012 to backup the databases on an Exchange Server 2013 Mailbox server.
For this demonstration a standalone Mailbox server (one that is not a member of a database availability group) hosts a single mailbox database.
[PS] C:\>Get-MailboxDatabase -Server E15MB3 Name Server Recovery ReplicationType ---- ------ -------- --------------- Mailbox Database 3 E15MB3 False None
Installing Windows Server Backup
Before we can back up the database of course we need to install Windows Server Backup. You can install this using PowerShell.
PS C:\> Install-WindowsFeature Windows-Server-Backup
Success Restart Needed Exit Code Feature Result
------- -------------- --------- --------------
True No Success {Windows Server Backup}
Configuring a Scheduled Backup
The next step is to configure a scheduled backup job. Open Windows Server Backup on the server.
In the Local Backup area of the console launch the Backup Schedule… wizard.
Click Next to move to the backup configuration selection. A full server backup should work fine, but if for some reason you only want to back up the Exchange database you can choose Custom instead.
If you’ve chosen a custom configuration you will then need to click Add Items and add the volumes that contain the Exchange mailbox database and log files.
Next, click Advanced Settings and on the VSS Settings tab make sure VSS full backup is chosen.
Continue through the wizard and choose a backup schedule, either once per day or multiple times per day.
Choose the backup destination. For this demonstration I’m using the recommended method of a local hard disk that is dedicated for backups.
You may need to click Show All Available Disks if you do not immediately see the disk you wish to use as a backup destination.
The disk will be reformatted for use by Windows Server Backup, which will erase any previous data stored on it.
Review your selections and click Finish to create the scheduled backup job.
Manually Running a Backup
You can manually run a backup by launching the Backup Once… wizard.
This gives you the choice of using the same settings that are configured for the scheduled backup job, or running through the same wizard shown above to choose settings for a one-off backup job.
Checking Backup Status
The status of backup jobs is reported in the Windows Server Backup console.
You can also check the last backup time stamp on the mailbox database itself.
[PS] C:\>Get-MailboxDatabase -Server E15MB3 -Status | fl name,last*backup Name : Mailbox Database 3 LastFullBackup : 11/18/2013 10:51:41 PM LastIncrementalBackup : LastDifferentialBackup : LastCopyBackup :
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