There are two methods to back up: on database level or on brick level

Description

Microsoft Exchange Server backup tools provide the ability to back up an Information Store on two levels.

Database level

This method provides ability to back up Information Store on database level using Full and Transaction Log backup methods. This is the fastest backup/restore method, but it provides only storage groups backup granularity. Some programs provide the ability to back up Databases and Transaction Log separately. On this level, you can not back up and restore individual mailboxes, folders or E-mails.

Common advantages:

• Performance - This is the fastest backup/restore method. E.g., it will take 2-5 minutes to back up a 10 GB database.
• Fast Incremental/Transaction Log backup - Transaction Log backup does not take much time. This method can be used every 10 minutes or every hour even on a high load server.
• Ability to restore to a point in time or to the point of failure.

Common disadvantages:

• Low backup granularity - You are not able to back up individual mailboxes and cannot use filter/exceptions.
• Low restore granularity - You cannot restore calendar entries, contacts, notes, tasks, and journal entries. Using Acronis Recovery for Microsoft Exchange you can restore individual mailboxes or E-mails, but the process is slow. See Recovering Separate Mailboxes and E-Mails from Information Store Backup Archives in Acronis Recovery for Microsoft Exchange.

Document (brick) level

This method provides the ability to back up and restore any Microsoft Exchange data (storage groups, mailboxes, E-mails) using full, incremental and differential backup methods. Brick level backup is much slower, since it is not a native Microsoft Exchange Server backup method.

Common advantages:

• High backup granularity - You are able to back up individual mailboxes and can use filter/exceptions.
• High restore granularity - You are able to restore individual mailboxes, folders, E-mails.

Common disadvantages:

• Slow speed - Brick level backup is 20-30 times slower than Database backup method.
• Microsoft Exchange Database will not be marked as backed up.
• Circular Logging should be enabled to avoid transaction logs filling the hard disk. See also Acronis Recovery for Microsoft Exchange Cannot Create an Incremental Backup in Circular Logging Mode.

More information

See also Acronis Backup 11.5.