Exchange Question

Crummy · January 27th, 2003, 04:21 PM

We are running Exchange Server 2000, and I've got a question about some log files that are created in the folder "\\program files\exchsrvr\mdbdata" folder. It creates log files that are exactly 5.12MB numerous times each day. Is this normal, what are in these log files, can I get rid of them. Right now its taking up almost 2GB of data on one of my drives.

Thanks in advance, let me know if you need any additional info.

Cyclone2 · January 27th, 2003, 08:37 PM

Quote:

. Exchange 2000 log files are always 5MB in size (5,252,880 bytes) and if not, then they are damaged.

http://www.msexchange.org/articles_t...e_server_2000/

NeoStarO1 · January 27th, 2003, 08:40 PM

Cyclone, Link is not working correctly. I think timo paraphrases or something the url links that are too long.

Try using the HTTP button on the reply form.

Cyclone2 · January 27th, 2003, 08:43 PM

Grrrr try this

Damn, Try Exchange Server 2000 logs in a Google search

SpookyEddy · January 27th, 2003, 08:47 PM

All transactions are appended to the logfiles in exchsrvr\mdbdata prior to be being commited to the databases. If a database dies then the server can work out what state it was last in by stepping through the log files, if you run a full backup they will be removed as its assumed you no longer need them (atleast Backup Exec's Exchange agent works that way).

Do you have any kind of backup system in place and what sort of volume of mail is the server processing?

Regards

eddy

Crummy · January 27th, 2003, 09:29 PM

Thanks for the replies,
Apparently I'm not backing up my Exchange correctly. Will look into it first thing in the morning, thanks for all your responses. Will keep posted.

Crummy · January 29th, 2003, 02:22 PM

I'm still not having any luck. I'm using NTBACKUP and backing up the entire exchange folder. But it still keeps all of the log files, we aren't doing large amounts of email volume only 4 users. I will research NTBACKUP more and see if there is any other options I should be using when backing up Exchange folders.

SpookyEddy · January 29th, 2003, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Backup Types
There are five basic types of backups that can be performed using ntbackup.exe, but only four of those apply to Exchange Server. They are summarized below:

* Full (normal) backups backup the entire Web Storage System and the Exchange log files. All transaction logs that contain transactions already committed to the database are deleted. Restoring from a full backup required only the full backup media. Full backups are the preferred means of backing up the Exchange databases.
* Copy backups act the same of full backups with the exception that the transaction log files are not deleted. You can perform a copy backup at any time without disturbing the status of any other type of backup.
* Incremental backups backup all log files prior to the checkpoint log and then delete them. Additionally, incremental backups back up all transaction log files and delete the log files that contain transactions that have been committed to the database. Restoring from an incremental backup requires that you have the last full backup and each subsequent incremental backup. If one incremental backup is damaged, you cannot restore any incremental backups made after that point as one damaged log file prevents replaying subsequent log files. It is critical that all incremental backups be restored prior to starting log file replay to prevent losing data or damaging the database.
* Differential backups backup all log files prior to the checkpoint file, but does not delete them. Due to this, each backup file will be larger in size than the previous file. Restoring from a differential backup requires that you have the last full backup and the last differential backup. Differential backups are the second most preferred method of performing backups, after full backups.

So NTbackup appears to be able to flush all the transaction logs after a full backup. I will have a look around for some more information after work.

Are you running the backup on the exchange server? Also are all the exchange services running when you run the backup? Are you selecting "Full Backup"?

Regards

eddy

Crummy · January 29th, 2003, 02:47 PM

My first problem is that I was running the backup from another server that has a tape drive. I am going to try and backup from the Exchange Server to my nearline backup, do I need to stop Exchange services before backing up?

Thanks for your help Eddy!

**EDIT**
When attempting to backup Exchange I have one Folder named Exchange that I can backup, then I have two Icons that are grayed out, one appears to be for a remote Exchange Server, and the other shows me my actual Exchange Server name will these (just my local server) be able to be backed up if I stop Exchange Services?

SpookyEddy · January 29th, 2003, 04:39 PM

The exchange services must be running to do a full backup and flush of the transaction logs. If the services are stopped then it will fail to delete the old logs.

When I get back to work in the morning I will have a play around with ntbackup and see what I can find out, haven't had to use it since we got BackupEXEC.

Regards

eddy