Decisions to make before performing a SnapManager backup

You can create a backup more quickly using the Backup and Verify window on your own. The SnapManager Backup wizard helps you create and schedule your backups using default settings.

The types of Storage Groups you can back up to are:

• Production Storage Groups
• LCR replica Storage Groups
• Continuous Cluster Replica (CCR) replica Storage Groups

The types of databases you can back up are:

• Active databases
• Passive or copy databases

You can do a full backup or a copy backup.

You can assign your backup to a standard, daily, or weekly management group.

Although it is possible to restore from an unverified backup, it is advisable to restore only from verified backups.

If you do not select automatic backup deletion, backups that are created after the current backup are retained.

If you do not need to retain up-to-the-minute restore ability from a backup that is not the most recent, you can reduce the amount of disk space required by omitting the backup of transaction logs that Exchange truncates after the SnapManager Backup operation finishes.

By default, automatic deletion of older backups within a backup management group is done selectively, in such a way that it does not cause a break in the continuity of transaction logs between the previous backup and the present time.

However, if you do not need to retain up-to-the-minute restore ability from a backup that is not the most recent, you can allow the automatic deletion feature to delete all older backups within the backup management group. The storage system space consumption reduces.

If you choose not to retain up-to-the-minute restore ability, it reduces the amount of disk space consumed by transaction log backups that Exchange truncates after the backup finishes. If all backups have the same backup management group designation, not retaining up-to-the-minute restore ability has no effect.

When you use the unique naming convention, the most recent Snapshot copy is identified by the most recent date and time. When you use the generic backup naming convention, the most recent Snapshot copy is identified by the Snapshot copy name that includes the string recent.

When you rename a Storage Group, all the databases in that Storage Group need to be unmounted. After you unmount all the databases, you can remount the databases. At this point Exchange recognizes the new Storage Group name, and you can create new SnapManager backups of this Storage Group. Refresh the backup window before the backup operation.

If you want to schedule the backup to run later, you must have the job scheduling information.