Exchange Information Store Backup with Cleanup and Email Report

  1. What is MSExchangeISBackup.exe Tool?
This is a customizable program for Exchange Information Store backup purposes.
The tool is only suitable for backup to file operation. (For Exchange 2003)

This program, when executed, calls the native backup capability of the NTBackup utility in Windows to execute a backup task for the Exchange Server Information Store. Additionally, after the backup task is complete, it reads the logs to determine whether the backup was successful or not. Then it performs a purge operation of older backup file based on the retention days specified in the configuration file. A report is also sent to the intended recipients via email. These features eliminate the need to check for completion or successful backup manually; and take care of housekeeping of old backup files based on retention value.

This can also be set as Scheduled Task to run daily or whenever is required.

  1. What are the system requirements?
·         .Net Framework 2.0
·         Windows 2003
·         Exchange 2003

  1. What are the required user permissions?
·         Access to the location/drive/path where the backup files will be saved.
·         The tool is expected to be handled, used and configured by the Administrators.

  1. Where can I get the program?

  1. Installation/Configuration

·         Download and Extract the zip to any folder. In this example, it is saved in C:\MSExchangeISBackup\



·         Create the Backup Selection File using NTBackup.exe
o    Click Start > Run > NTBackup.exe
o    Select the Server and Information Store for backup.


o     Click Job > Save Selection As


o    Save the BKS file. In this example, it is saved in C:\MSExchangeISBackup\DevSvr01-IS.bks


o    Modify the INI file. In this example, we are configuring the config.ini file.

[OPTIONS]

;the path for NTBACKUP.exe
NTBUPathName=C:\Windows\System32\ntbackup.exe

;the folder where the Backup Selection is located. (*.BKS)
BKSDir=C:\MSEXchangeISBackup\

;the filename of the backup selection file
BKSFile=DevSvr01-IS.bks

;the path where the backup file will be saved (*.BKF)
;this coud be a local drive or a network location.
;TAPE is not supported.. yet.
BKFDir=C:\Backup\

;Prefix for the backup filename.
BKFPrefix=DevSvr01_

;File extension for the output backup file. There is usually no need to change this.
BKFExtension=bkf

;How many days to keep the copy of the backup file in the BKFDir location before it is purged.
;Make sure that a MINUS sign comes before the number (eg. -14 for 14 days retention)
KeepDays=-5

;Indicate if backups older than the KeepDays value is purged/deleted. (TRUE or FALSE)
PurgeOld=TRUE

;Indicate if the report is to be sent via email. (TRUE or FALSE)
SendReport=TRUE

;IP or Resolvable name of the SMTP server where the email report will be relayed for delivery.
SMTPServer=192.168.56.250

;SMTP port. Usually 25.
Port=25

;Sender address to reflect as the sender of the report.
Sender=DevSvr01_Backup@labworks.local

;Recipient addresses of the email report. Seperate multiple addresses with COMMA.
Recipient=administrator@labworks.local


  1. Run the program to Backup Exchange Information Store
·         Open Command Prompt and change the path to where the tool is saved. In this example it is in C:\MSExchangeISBackup



·         Issue the command in this format “MSExchangeISBackup.exe [INI File]” .
·         In this example, it is MSExchangeISBackup.exe Config.ini



·         NTBackup.exe will run in the background.
·         The output will be written in the command console.



·         It checks if backup was successful.
·         It will delete older backups based on the retention days specifies in the INI file.
·         The report will be sent via email if it is enabled in the INI.


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