NetVault Plug-in for Exchange 12.3

NetVault Plug-in for Exchange 12.3 - User Guide

Installing or upgrading the plug-in in high-availability deployments

Installation of Plug‑in for Exchange for a clustered environment is different from standalone deployment. This process is completed through the creation of a Virtual Client on the NetVault Backup Server. A Virtual Client is a group of nodes and hosts within the cluster. The NetVault Backup Server sees the cluster as a single client that is created to back up a single clustered resource, that is, an Exchange Server Virtual Server. During the Virtual Client creation process, the plug-in is transferred from the NetVault Backup Server to selected nodes within a cluster and installed on each of the selected nodes.

As described in High-availability deployment using a Single- Location Database Availability Group (DAG), creating the Virtual Client for managing the DAG installs the Plug‑in for Exchange on each node included in the cluster. During this process, verify that the NetVault Backup Client is installed on each node and that each NetVault Backup Client is added to the Virtual Client that you create for the DAG. This process ensures that the applicable databases are not excluded from the backup process.

Creating a Virtual Client

When you use the WebUI to add a Virtual Client to a NetVault Backup Server, you specify a Virtual Client Address. NetVault Backup Server uses this address to determine which NetVault Backup Real Client (Exchange Server) to contact to initiate the backup job.

The Virtual Client creation process is not plug-in-specific, and you can find complete details in the topic dedicated to cluster functionality in the Quest NetVault Backup Administrator’s Guide. However, the process is different if you are using any type of high-availability deployment that has an administrative access point versus a DAG deployment that does not use an access point.

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Creating a Virtual Client for a deployment that uses an administrative access point

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Creating a Virtual Client for a DAG that does not use an administrative access point

Creating a Virtual Client for a deployment that uses an administrative access point

Consider the following points during the Virtual Client creation process for a deployment that uses an access point:

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Only include relevant cluster nodes in the Virtual Client: The hosts that are to be included in the creation of a Virtual Client should only be those nodes or Exchange Mailbox Servers that make up the DAG deployment. During the creation of the Virtual Client, you can specify either the IP address of the Exchange virtual cluster or the name of the Exchange virtual cluster. After the creation of the Virtual Client, the plug-in is transferred to all designated cluster nodes and installed locally. The installed Plug‑in for Exchange can be used through the Virtual Client to back up and restore the DAG deployment.


	IMPORTANT: If you are creating a Virtual Client for a DAG configuration and the DAG is configured to use multiple IP addresses, enter either the network name for the DAG or an IP address that allows network access to the DAG from the machine on which the NetVault Backup Server is installed.

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Assign a name to the Virtual Client: Quest strongly recommends that the Virtual Server network name assigned to the Exchange Server be used as the NetVault Backup Virtual Client name. When a Virtual Client is browsed, NetVault Backup locates the node currently in control of the clustered application, and reveals the Exchange Server Instance. With a Virtual Client name set up as the Exchange Server Virtual Server network name, it is easier to recognize the Exchange Server Instance for which the Virtual Client was created.

Creating a Virtual Client for a DAG that does not use an administrative access point

For a high-availability deployment with an administrative access point, the Virtual Client Address that you enter is either a virtual IP address or the network name of the cluster. However, for a DAG without an administrative access point, also known as IP-less DAG or no-CNO DAG, you must create a NetVault Backup Virtual Client that uses a fixed IP address or network name that corresponds to one of the Real Clients (Exchange Servers) in the DAG.

Creating a Virtual Client for a DAG without an administrative access point differs slightly from creating a Virtual Client for a DAG that has an administrative access point. If the DAG does not have an administrative access point, enter the IP address or network name of one of the Exchange Servers that participates in the DAG and on which NetVault Backup Client software is installed. In this case, the Virtual Client Address always resolves to the selected Exchange Server (Real Client) instead of to a DAG.


	IMPORTANT: If the Exchange Server (Real Client) to which the fixed IP address or network name corresponds goes offline for any reason, subsequent backup jobs fail. Either bring the Exchange Server back online or update the Virtual Client to use a different IP address or network name for a different Exchange Server (Real Client) that is included in the DAG.

Removing the plug-in from a standalone deployment

For details on removing the Plug‑in for Exchange in a DAG deployment, see the applicable topic on working with client clusters in the Quest NetVault Backup Administrator’s Guide.

In the Navigation pane, click Manage Clients.

On the Manage Clients page, select the applicable client, and click Manage.