XADM: Cannot Perform Backup When Exchange System Manager Is Not Installed (251904)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you try to perform a backup for a computer running Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server on which the Exchange Server Services are installed but the Exchange System Manager is not, the backup may fail to start or may return an error message, depending on the backup software involved.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because upon installation, both the Exchange Server Services and Exchange System Manager install files and make changes to the registry that are necessary for a successful backup. When Exchange System Manager is not installed, some of the needed files and registry settings are missing, and the backup fails.

RESOLUTION

Install Exchange System Manager on the server; doing so installs the proper files and adds the registry keys needed for a successful backup.

WORKAROUND

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

The following workaround enables a backup to complete without installing Exchange System Manager:

Copy the Esebcli2.dll file from the Exchange 2000 CD to the Exchsrvr\Bin folder.
Add the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\BackupRestore\DLLPaths
Add the following value:
esebcli2 = c:\exchsrvr\bin\esebcli2.dll