IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Mail, Data Protection for Microsoft Exchange Server, Version 7.1

Gathering information about Exchange with VSS before calling IBM

The Data Protection client is dependent upon the operating system and the Exchange application. Collecting all the necessary information about the environment can significantly assist with determining the problem.

The Management Console (MMC) is able to collect information in a package file. The package file can be sent to IBM Software Support.

Gather as much of the following information as possible before you contact IBM Support:
  • The exact level of the Windows operating system, including all service packs and hotfixes that were applied.
  • The exact level of the Exchange Server, including all service packs and hotfixes that were applied.
  • The exact level of Data Protection for Exchange with Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) Backup/Restore support.
  • The exact level of the Tivoli® Storage Manager API.
  • The exact level of the Tivoli Storage Manager server.
  • The exact level of the Tivoli Storage Manager backup-archive client.
  • The exact level of the Tivoli Storage Manager storage agent (if LAN-free environment).
  • The Tivoli Storage Manager server platform and operating system level.
  • The output from the Tivoli Storage Manager server QUERY SYSTEM command.
  • The output from the Data Protection for Exchange TDPEXCC QUERY EXCHANGE command.
  • The device type (and connectivity path) of the Exchange databases and logs.
  • (SAN only) The specific hardware that is being used. For example: HBA, driver levels, microcode levels, SAN Volume Controller or Storwize® V7000 levels, DS8000® hardware details.
  • Permissions and the name of the user ID being used to run backup and restore operations.
  • The name and version of antivirus software.
  • (SAN only) The VSS hardware provider level.
  • The VSS hardware provider log files. See the documentation of the specific VSS hardware provider on how to enable tracing and collect the trace log files.
  • (SAN only) The IBM CIM agent level for DS8000, SAN Volume Controller, or Storwize V7000.
  • A list of vendor-acquired Exchange applications that are running on the system.
  • A list of other applications that are running on the system.
  • A list of the steps that are needed to re-create the problem (if the problem can be re-created).
  • If the problem cannot be re-created, list the steps that caused the problem.
  • Does the problem occur on other Exchange servers?


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