The 'Microsoft Information Store' returned 'Backup is already active.

While backing up Exchange Stores on a Microsoft Exchange 2003 server for a friend using the ol' faithful Windows NTBackup, I came across the following error.


Backup Status
Operation: Backup
Active backup destination: File
Media name: "exchange_backup.bkf created 18/07/2011 at 10:33 PM"

Volume shadow copy creation: Attempt 1.
Backup of "ExchSrvr01\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group"
Backup set #1 on media #1
Backup description: "Set created 18/07/2011 at 10:33 PM"
Media name: "exchange_backup.bkf created 18/07/2011 at 10:33 PM"

Backup Type: Normal

Backup started on 18/07/2011 at 10:33 PM.
The 'Microsoft Information Store' returned 'Backup is already active.

' from a call to 'HrESEBackupSetup()' additional data '-'The 'Microsoft Information Store' returned 'Functions called in an invalid sequence.

' from a call to 'HrESEBackupClose()' additional data '-'
The operation was ended.
Backup completed on 18/07/2011 at 10:33 PM.
Directories: 0
Files: 0
Bytes: 0
Time: 1 second

----------------------

The operation did not successfully complete.

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Failing to remember any solutions off hand, I consulted the Oracle, (Google is the almighty I am talking about). In return for my search, I got hundreds of matches. I opened the first one, as it was from Microsoft Support http://support.microsoft.com/kb/820272. This said that I had my Exchange Server Databases installed on the same drive as my operating system. Due to this the backup was failing. This did not fit my situation so I trawled further.


Persistence and bullheadedness is the recipe to success and Viola! I found my answer. To be quite honest, when I read it, I thought it to be too simple to work. I said to myself, if this works, I will be a monkey's uncle. And as it stands, a happy monkey has just inherited me as their uncle :)

The problem was due to the simple fact that circular logging was enabled on the Storage Group. I disabled it, restarted the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service and tried NTBackup again. To my hearts joy, it worked :) (exact article can be found here http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1182209&page=1


Have a great week.

Are you migrating to Exchange 2010? Need Help removing Exchange 2003?

Hi All.

I know it has been a while since my last post. All I can say is that things have been very hectic and I have not had time to put up any new things. I do tweet or re-twitter from time to time, so for those that would like to hear more from me, you can follow me at twitter.com/nivleshc

For the past few weeks I have been removing our Legacy Email Servers (there you go. Now you know that we have moved off Exchange 2003 :) ). Uninstalling Exchange 2003 can be a breeze if things work well but for those moments when things just grind to a standstill, everything seems to break around you and you feel like the sky is falling, you need to know where your nearest life line is. You could call me :) or you could use the following links to make the uninstall a much smoother ride.

Here you go, some useful links

1. I found this to be a very good place to start. It covers both automatically uninstalling and manual uninstalls.
KB833396: How to Remove Exchange 2003 from your Computer
2. Another link, but this time from MSExchange.org.
Remove Exchange Server from Entire Exchange Organization

If you still find yourself in deep water, send me an email and I will try to help you out.

Have a great and trouble free weekend.

Week 29 Article 05 - Darn Blackberry!! User cannot send/receive emails from device after a few hours!!

Platform:
Blackberry Enterprise Service 4.x
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Symptoms:
After setting up a user for blackberry access, he/she can send/receive emails from the device fine till after a few hours. After a few hours, when he tries sending emails from the device, a red X is displayed beside the message, and an error message stating that the message was not delivered.

Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Checked permissions ( http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=912918)
2. From 1. above, found that the Blackberry account did not have the Send As permission anymore.
3. Had a look at the user account permissions and found that one of his group memberships was to an account with domain wide administrator access! This is a NO NO as per the KB article
4. Removed user from the group. Gave the Blackberry account Send As permission on the user account.
5. Restarted Microsoft Exchange Information Store, Blackberry Dispatcher and Blackberry Router service.
6. Tested sending of emails from the device.

Moral: RTFM! There is a reason why there is a KB article and set of steps to do things