IBM Support

Skipping the Exchange Integrity Check for a VSS backup

Question & Answer


Question

When performing a VSS full backup of an Exchange Server database, is there a way to skip the Integrity check processing?

Cause

When performing VSS Backups of Exchange Server storage groups and databases, Microsoft requires running the Exchange Integrity check to verify that the data contained within the backup is valid.

Answer

Starting with Exchange Server 2010, Microsoft has stated that when running in a Database Availability Group (DAG) configuration, with databases that have two or more healthy copies, the Exchange Integrity check can be skipped (reference http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd877010(EXCHG.140).aspx).

There are 2 different methodologies for disabling the Exchange Integrity Check performed by Data Protection for Exchange (or FlashCopy Manager for Exchange):

  • Permanently disable the integrity check using a Windows system environment variable.
  • Individually for each database backup with the Data Protection /skipintegritycheck option

1. The permanent disablement is all or nothing and requires a system reboot. You cannot turn the integrity check on and off for certain database backups. To turn off the integrity check processing for the entire machine:
  • Go into your computer settings and add the following Environment Variables --> "System variable":
Variable: EXCVSSIC_SKIPINTEGRITYCHECK
Value: YES
  • Reboot the machine.

After making this change ALL the VSS Exchange backups will skip the integrity check.
Note: To turn the integrity checks back on, remove the environment variable and reboot the machine.


2. The Data Protection for Exchange /skipintegritycheck parameter can be used for all backup types (both FULL and COPY on either passive or active databases) to avoid the integrity check without setting the variable as per the above instructions. As noted in the FlashCopy Manager or Data Protection for Exchange manual:
For further details on the /skipintegritycheck parameter refer to the manual (see URL link below)


WARNING: If the Exchange integrity check is skipped and there is an integrity error while trying to restore the database, you may have to run repairs on the database which could result in data loss.

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Product Synonym

TSM FCM

Document Information

Modified date:
17 June 2018

UID

swg21504501

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