Knowledge Base

Circular logging considerations with LiveVault

Unlike traditional backup products, the LiveVault backup technology doesn't rely on the Microsoft Exchange Server standard logging to ensure complete and accurate backups or restores. Because the standard backup policies of LiveVault don't truncate or remove the Exchange logs, then failure to enable circular logging when backing up Exchange servers with standard backup policies logging can result in the computer running out of disk space. If you enable circular logging, then Exchange deletes all the committed log files as soon as a new transaction log is created. This can be delayed until the Edbxx.log file of the relevant storage group fills, and requires renaming.

This article explains how to enable circular logging, and so avoid a computer running out of disk space when backing up Exchange servers with standard backup policies.

 

Circular logging considerations with Exchange backup policies and with standard backup policies

  • For Microsoft Exchange 2003 and later, refer to knowledge article, KB0010617, Creating an Exchange backup policy, and disable the circular logging.
  • To back up Exchange databases using standard backup policies, then enable the circular logging.

 

Exchange 2000/2003/2007, with a standard backup policy

For LiveVault to back up Exchange 2000/2003/2007 Server with a standard policy, circular logging must be enabled for each Information Storage group. Because each individual message store within an Information Storage group shares the same set of transaction logs, each individual message store is affected by enabling circular logging for that storage group.

Note:
Circular logging is disabled by default in Exchange 2000/2003/2007. If you are backing up Exchange servers with standard backup policies, then you must manually enable circular logging.

To enable/disable circular logging using the Exchange System Manager, proceed as follows.

  1. In Exchange System Manager, go to the Exchange Server and select the Information Storage group for which you want to enable circular logging.
  2. Right-click on the selected storage group, and select Properties on the shortcut menu.

The Properties dialog box opens.

  1. On the General tab, tick the Enable circular logging checkbox.

Note:
To disable circular logging on Exchange to perform Exchange backups, un-tick the Enable circular logging checkbox.

  1. Repeat Step 2 to Step 3 for each Information Storage group.
  2. Restart the Information Store as follows;
    1. Click Start, then Programs, Administrative Tools, Services.
    2. On the right pane, select Microsoft Exchange Information Store.
    3. On the Action menu, select Restart.
    4. If a dialog box opens indicating services will be restarted, then select Yes.

 

Exchange 2010 and later, with a standard backup policy

For LiveVault to back up Exchange 2010 and later servers with a standard policy, circular logging must be enabled for each database.

Note:
Circular logging is disabled by default in Exchange 2010 and later. If you are backing up Exchange servers with standard backup policies, you must manually enable circular logging.

Enabling/disabling circular logging using the Exchange System Manager
To enable/disable circular logging using the Exchange System Manager proceed as follows.

  1. At the Exchange Management Console select the database for which you want to enable circular logging.
  2. Dismount the database.
  3. Right-click the selected database and select Properties.

The Properties dialog box opens.

  1. Open the Property page for the database.
  2. Click Maintenance and tick the Enable circular logging checkbox.

Note:
To disable circular logging to perform Exchange backups, un-tick the Enable circular logging checkbox.

  1. Mount the database.

Enabling/disabling circular logging in Exchange 2013
To enable/disable circular logging in Exchange 2013, proceed as follows.

  1. In a browser window, navigate to your Exchange 2013 Admin Centre URL and log in with an administrative account.
  2. In Servers, select Databases.
  3. Select the database you want to enable Circular logging for and click Edit.
  4. Click Maintenance, and tick the Enable circular logging checkbox.

Note:
To disable circular logging to perform Exchange backups, un-tick the Enable circular logging checkbox.

  1. Click Save.

Enabling/disabling circular logging via Exchange Management shell
To enable/disable circular logging via Exchange Management shell, proceed as follows.

  1. Open Exchange Management shell.
  2. Run the following command: Get-mailboxdatabase -Identity DBname | set-mailboxdatabase -CircularloggingEnabled $true