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Exchange Log Files
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 Limited time MSExchange.org offer! -- 1.Sep.2008 1:00:00 PM
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TechGenix and SolarWinds have partnered to provide free copies of SolarWinds Exchange Monitor to all visitors who join the MSExchange.org Forums. SolarWinds Exchange Monitor is a handy desktop dashboard that continuously monitors Microsoft Exchange to deliver real-time insight into Exchange services, mail queue sizes, and host server health. Learn more about Exchange Monitor and the free offer!
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Exchange Log Files - 25.Aug.2008 12:33:35 PM
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pantherguy
Posts: 15
Joined: 28.Jul.2008
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We have Exchange 2003 and I'm wondering about the log files in C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\MDBDATA. We are running low on disk space and just a couple of weeks ago we had around 80 gig of free space, now we're down to around 5 gig. I was looking around and noticed that the MDBDATA folder was around 70 gig, figuring this was the reason for the fast decline in disk space. After looking around some other forums and articles, most say that these logs should be automatically cleared after a full backup. We do a full backup every night and I'm wondering I it just stopped clearing them after it was done. I know they are getting backed up every night, but I don't want to just delete them, I would rather have the backup clear them out every night. Any suggestions?
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 25.Aug.2008 12:40:19 PM
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mark@mvps.org
Posts: 3762
Joined: 9.Jun.2004
From: Philadelphia PA
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What backup application are you using?
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Mark Arnold (Exchange MVP)
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 25.Aug.2008 12:42:17 PM
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pantherguy
Posts: 15
Joined: 28.Jul.2008
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We have a tape backup system from Yosemite Technologies called TapeWare. We run a nightly backup that includes these log files, I'm just not sure why they're not being cleared out.
Thanks.
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 25.Aug.2008 12:52:37 PM
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mark@mvps.org
Posts: 3762
Joined: 9.Jun.2004
From: Philadelphia PA
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I'm not familiar with that. Talk to the vendor because you need an "Exchange aware" backup. Simply backing up the log files does not mean that those log files are purged. The backup application needs to backup the Exchange databases (properly with an agent) and only when that is seen as a valid backup will Exchange purge the log files.
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Mark Arnold (Exchange MVP)
List Moderator
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 25.Aug.2008 1:37:55 PM
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pantherguy
Posts: 15
Joined: 28.Jul.2008
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Can this be acheived by running NTBACKUP? I haven't ever used it before, but I'm assuming the wizard is pretty self-explanatory. Any tips on how to run NTBACKUP? Thanks.
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 25.Aug.2008 4:01:49 PM
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ratishnair
Posts: 21
Joined: 29.Jul.2008
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Use the eseutil /mh command to check the last committed log file (anchor file) and you can delete all others from the location; coz they are useless since they are already commited to the database.
Mark did mention that you need to use an exchange aware backup solution, cause if its using the MS API, it will purge the log files.
revert for more information.
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 25.Aug.2008 4:07:16 PM
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Sembee
Posts: 3503
Joined: 17.Jan.2008
From: Somewhere near London, UK
Status: offline
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NTBACKUP on the Exchange server will be fine. That is what I use to backup my servers. If you find it is a little awkward to use, then Backup Assist provides a good GUI for NTBACKUP that makes it easier to use.
You don't need to backup the log files. By backing up the store the logs are flushed. It sounds like the application you are using is not Exchange aware. If it was the application supplied with the tape drive then it is almost certainly is not Exchange aware.
Simon.
_____________________________
Simon Butler,
Exchange MVP
Blog: http://www.sembee.co.uk/
Web: http://www.amset.info/
In the UK? Hire me: http://www.amset.co.uk/
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 25.Aug.2008 4:22:00 PM
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pantherguy
Posts: 15
Joined: 28.Jul.2008
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Thanks guys. Am I not doing something right? Everytime I try to use the eseutil /mh command, it just says that it's not a recognized command. I'm confused.
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 25.Aug.2008 4:27:21 PM
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Sembee
Posts: 3503
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From: Somewhere near London, UK
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: pantherguy
Thanks guys. Am I not doing something right? Everytime I try to use the eseutil /mh command, it just says that it's not a recognized command. I'm confused.
I have to say that the advice to use eseutil was poor. It is not something I would suggest that you do without doing other things first.
Check in Exchange to see when it is reporting its last backup. This is on the Properties of the Database. if it does not report a backup then you need to run one.
Simon.
_____________________________
Simon Butler,
Exchange MVP
Blog: http://www.sembee.co.uk/
Web: http://www.amset.info/
In the UK? Hire me: http://www.amset.co.uk/
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 25.Aug.2008 4:43:21 PM
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pantherguy
Posts: 15
Joined: 28.Jul.2008
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Thanks, Sembee. I couldn't find a date for the last backup, maybe I wasn't looking in the right place. I looked in the properties of the server and the first storage group, but could only find a last modification date of a couple of months ago.
So, if I use NTBACKUP and only backup the .edb, .chk and .stm files, I can delete the log files?
Also, what does the NTBACKUP do different than my tape backup. I can see that it backs up the entire MDBDATA folder every night. Is this not considered a good backup?
If I do run NTBACKUP, should I backup the MDBDATA folder only, or the First Storage Group under the Exchange Server?
< Message edited by pantherguy -- 25.Aug.2008 5:39:36 PM >
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 25.Aug.2008 6:41:30 PM
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Sembee
Posts: 3503
Joined: 17.Jan.2008
From: Somewhere near London, UK
Status: offline
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First - DO NOT ever delete the transaction logs files manually unless you are sure you know what you are doing.
The backup status is in ESM, Servers, <your server>, <your storage group>, Mailbox Store. Right click on the mailbox store and choose Properties. Click on the tab Database. It will show you when the last backup was carried out.
You do not backup Exchange like regular files. In the Exchange aware backup application you will have an option for the Information Store. Exchange is a database and has to be treated in special way. It is the same as SQL server - you don't backup SQL's raw files, you either use an agent or get SQL to dump out the file and then back that up.
When an Exchange aware backup is used, after the backup is completed the transaction logs will be flushed correctly by the application.
Simon.
_____________________________
Simon Butler,
Exchange MVP
Blog: http://www.sembee.co.uk/
Web: http://www.amset.info/
In the UK? Hire me: http://www.amset.co.uk/
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 25.Aug.2008 7:39:04 PM
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pantherguy
Posts: 15
Joined: 28.Jul.2008
Status: offline
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Thanks for your patience, Sembee. I found the database tab and it shows that it's never had a full backup, go figure. I am the first full-time IT person the company has had, so I'm still trying to figure everything out.
Like I mentioned earlier, I'm short of disk space and that's why I'm trying to figure this issue out. If I do a backup using NTBACKUP, won't it be roughly the same size that it is right now? I don't have enough room for the backup if that's the case. I guess I'm kind of stuck on what my options are. Thanks again for your help and if you have any suggestions, I would appreciate it.
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 26.Aug.2008 5:34:24 AM
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Sembee
Posts: 3503
Joined: 17.Jan.2008
From: Somewhere near London, UK
Status: offline
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If you backup to disk then you it will use approximately the same amount of space that the database is in size. If the server has never had a backup then that has got to be your first priority. What do you backup to usually? Tape? If so then use a new tape and backup the serer.
I am surprised that someone hasn't piped up with enabling circular logging. That is what is often suggested. While that will get rid of the logs it will leave your server badly exposed in the event of a failure. At the moment you could restore all of the data by replaying those transaction logs. Enable circular logging and you lose all backups - the backups you have done to date of the Exchange directory structure are useless.
At a push, you could compress the log files with the native file compression utility., If you do that then be very careful. Do not compress the directory or the databases. Only compress the log files - which are 5mb in size and only compress the old ones, the current live one. That will give you space backup, but it is not a replacement for a good backup.
Simon.
_____________________________
Simon Butler,
Exchange MVP
Blog: http://www.sembee.co.uk/
Web: http://www.amset.info/
In the UK? Hire me: http://www.amset.co.uk/
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 26.Aug.2008 8:52:40 AM
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pantherguy
Posts: 15
Joined: 28.Jul.2008
Status: offline
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OK, so I used NTBACKUP and backed up the NDBDATA folder and the entire First Storage Group to my PC since I have plenty of space. This morning I looked on the server and the log files are still there. I looked at the backup and its roughly 56 gig but it doesn't seem like there's anything on it. In the wizard, I was just curious on what got backed up so I started to do a restore, but at the part where you select the files, it looks like there's nothing there. Did I do something wrong? This issue is driving me crazy, just when I thought I had an answer, it doesn't seem like it's working. Thanks again.
Also, I looked under the database tab and it says that a full and incremental backup have never been done. Obviously I didn't do something right.
< Message edited by pantherguy -- 26.Aug.2008 8:55:39 AM >
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 26.Aug.2008 2:58:22 PM
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pantherguy
Posts: 15
Joined: 28.Jul.2008
Status: offline
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Thanks Simon, I'll give that a try. Sorry, I was under the impression that NTBACKUP was an Exchange aware backup application. I didn't realize that there was more to the configuration. Thanks for your help.
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 26.Aug.2008 5:52:36 PM
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Sembee
Posts: 3503
Joined: 17.Jan.2008
From: Somewhere near London, UK
Status: offline
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NT Backup is Exchange aware, but you have to select Exchange for it to backup the data.
Simon.
_____________________________
Simon Butler,
Exchange MVP
Blog: http://www.sembee.co.uk/
Web: http://www.amset.info/
In the UK? Hire me: http://www.amset.co.uk/
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 27.Aug.2008 9:07:46 AM
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pantherguy
Posts: 15
Joined: 28.Jul.2008
Status: offline
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Thank you so much Simon, you're a genius. It cleared out the old logs and now we have around 60 gig to play with.
This may not be an issue with the backup, just a coincedence. I did the backup last night and this morning I opened Outlook and it said I had 15 new messages. After reading or deleting the messages, it still says I have 15 new messages. Not a big deal, I was wondering if that had to do with the backup.
Thanks again.
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 27.Aug.2008 10:05:27 AM
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Sembee
Posts: 3503
Joined: 17.Jan.2008
From: Somewhere near London, UK
Status: offline
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The Outlook problem would have nothing to do with the backup. Use OWA to confirm whether it is an issue with the mailbox (as OWA is live data) or Outlook (which is cached).
Simon.
_____________________________
Simon Butler,
Exchange MVP
Blog: http://www.sembee.co.uk/
Web: http://www.amset.info/
In the UK? Hire me: http://www.amset.co.uk/
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RE: Exchange Log Files - 27.Aug.2008 10:14:17 AM
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pantherguy
Posts: 15
Joined: 28.Jul.2008
Status: offline
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Nevermind, I restarted and now it seems to work fine.
Thanks again Simon.
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