Verifying backup databases

If you created a database backup Snapshot copy without automatically verifying the databases at the time the backup was created, you can verify the databases in that backup as a separate operation. See the following topics for more information:

Information you need to specify for a database verification
Starting or scheduling database verification
Attention
If you attempt to perform a database verification (or a backup with database verification) when SnapManager is running from a Terminal Services client instead of from a system console, the operation will fail.

Information you need to specify for a database verification

A database integrity verification job is specified using a combination of parameters.

Job-specific parameters

Each time you start or schedule a database verification, you must specify the following information in either the Backup Wizard or in the Backup and Verification tab:

The databases for which you want to verify any unverified backup Snapshot copies
Within the selected databases, the backup management groups for which you want to verify any unverified backup Snapshot copies
For more information, see Using backup management groups in backup and verification.
For the selected databases and backup management groups, the number of unverified backup Snapshot copies you want to verify
Note
If you request verification of a greater number of unverified Snapshot copies than specified by your database and backup management group selections, the verification will proceed, and therefore all backups will be verified.
Whether you want to run a command after the backup is complete (usually done to archive backups)
This feature is typically used to automatically archive a backup, as described in Using Run Command After Operation to archive automatically.
Whether you want to run the verification now or schedule it for later
Note
If you want to schedule the verification to run later, you also need to know the job scheduling information.

Verification settings

The following list summarizes the settings that pertain to database verification:

Which Exchange server is used to perform database verification
This is configured using the Verification Server tab of the Database Verification Settings dialog box, described in Selecting the database verification server.

If you will be specifying a remote verification server, be sure it is set up properly, as described in Requirements for a remote verification server.

Note
Whether you run database verification either remotely or locally, the verification is performed on a LUN backed by Snapshot copy. If you take a Snapshot copy of the same volume while a LUN backed by Snapshot copy exists, you create a "busy Snapshot copy," which might cause problems when you attempt to delete some Snapshot copies. For this reason, you must be careful not to schedule backups while a verification is in progress. For information about busy Snapshot copies, see Problem deleting backups due to busy Snapshot copy error.
Which method is used to access database backup Snapshot copies during database integrity verification
For more information, see Selecting the Snapshot copy access method for database verification.
If SnapManager is installed with Exchange 2003 SP2: Whether to configure throttling of the database checksum verification rate
For more information, see Configuring Eseutil throttling for database verification.
If you must restore from an unverified backup: Whether you want to override the verification requirement for restoring databases from SnapManager backups
For more information, see Overriding database verification during restore.

Starting or scheduling database verification

To run or schedule database verification, complete the following steps from the production Exchange server (not from the remote verification server).

Step

Action

1
On the production Exchange server, click the Backup and Verification tab.

2
Select the storage group (Store) you want to run the verification on.

3
Select the Verify Databases and Transaction Logs in the Most Recent Unverified Backups option.

4
Select how many of the most recent unverified backups you want to verify.

Note
Only unverified backups are counted. For example, if you select to verify the two most recent unverified backups, and the most recent backup's databases have already been verified, then the two previous backups are verified.

5
In the Backup Management Group field, select the backup management group of the backups you want to verify.

If you want to verify the most recent backups regardless of their backup management group, select All.

6
If you want to run a command after the verification is complete, select the Run Command After Operation check box.

This is usually done to archive backups. For details, see Using Run Command After Operation to archive automatically.

7
If your volume is a SnapMirror source volume and you do not want the destination volume to be updated after this verification is complete, clear the Update SnapMirror After Operation check box.

8
Click Verify Now, and on the Backup Status window, click Start Now.

Note
To schedule the verification for later, click Schedule instead and follow the prompts in the dialog boxes.
Result

Verification is run on the databases in the backup you selected. If verification is successful, a dialog box appears telling you so. If any backup database fails verification, delete that backup and create another.

Step	Action
1	On the production Exchange server, click the Backup and Verification tab.
2	Select the storage group (Store) you want to run the verification on.
3	Select the Verify Databases and Transaction Logs in the Most Recent Unverified Backups option.
4	Select how many of the most recent unverified backups you want to verify. Note Only unverified backups are counted. For example, if you select to verify the two most recent unverified backups, and the most recent backup's databases have already been verified, then the two previous backups are verified.
5	In the Backup Management Group field, select the backup management group of the backups you want to verify. If you want to verify the most recent backups regardless of their backup management group, select All.
6	If you want to run a command after the verification is complete, select the Run Command After Operation check box. This is usually done to archive backups. For details, see Using Run Command After Operation to archive automatically.
7	If your volume is a SnapMirror source volume and you do not want the destination volume to be updated after this verification is complete, clear the Update SnapMirror After Operation check box.
8	Click Verify Now, and on the Backup Status window, click Start Now. Note To schedule the verification for later, click Schedule instead and follow the prompts in the dialog boxes. Result Verification is run on the databases in the backup you selected. If verification is successful, a dialog box appears telling you so. If any backup database fails verification, delete that backup and create another.