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

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.

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.

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

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:

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

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server.