Overview - SharePoint Server iDataAgent

Choose from the following topics:

Introduction
- SharePoint Servers, SharePoint Clients, and Clients
Supported Data Types
Tree Levels in the SharePoint Server iDataAgent
License Requirement
Disaster Recovery Considerations

Related Topics:

Erase Backup/Archived Data (for Document Backup Sets only)

Introduction

Microsoft SharePoint Server and Windows SharePoint Services include components that are backed up by the SharePoint Server iDataAgent, as well as data which must be backed up using the File System iDataAgent. SharePoint database files can also reside on separate SQL servers; to secure this data, you must back up these files using the appropriate SQL Server iDataAgent. The SharePoint entities that can be backed up by the system are described in detail in the following sections.

The following figure shows the iDataAgents needed to fully secure a SharePoint all-in-one Server or Windows SharePoint Services single-box installation:

The following figure shows the iDataAgents needed to fully secure SharePoint Server components in a small server farm, or with the database for Windows SharePoint Services on a separate SQL Server:

SharePoint Servers, SharePoint Clients, and Clients

The following definitions are offered to prevent any confusion that may arise from the use of the term client:

A SharePoint Server is a computer on which the appropriate Windows Server software and Microsoft SharePoint Server, or Windows SharePoint Services software have been installed. You can secure file system data on a SharePoint Server using the Windows File System iDataAgent for the server's file system.
SharePoint Clients are computers that access SharePoint data through the SharePoint Server or Windows SharePoint Services.
A client is a computer whose data is backed up via an iDataAgent.

Supported Data Types

A SharePoint Server consists of many components, listed in more detail below, and supports indexing of network file shares, Web shares, Lotus Notes databases, and other SharePoint Servers. This information is stored in a logical view of information as needed for various user types, as opposed to a folder view. This information is presented to the user via the digital dashboard web page serviced by the IIS web server. Users will have specific permissions to access the content of workspace folders.

In addition to the database on the SharePoint Server, there may be SharePoint Server entities or application data that is not backed up by the SharePoint iDataAgent. To secure this data you must back it up using the File System iDataAgent, and in the case of a server farm, the SQL Server iDataAgent.

Data Secured by the Database Backup Sets

The Database Backup Sets are used to back up and restore the database components of the system.

SharePoint Server 2003	SharePoint Server 2007
All-in-one Server Portal Sites, including Service, Profile, and Site Databases Portal Site Indexes (Content Sources) Site Content Databases Team Site Databases Site Collections (size of 15 gigabytes (GB) or smaller) Single Sign-on (Database and Encryption Key) Backward Compatible Library	Standalone Web Application Content Database Shared Service Provider (Shared Services Content DataBase, Search DataBase, and Search Index files) WSS Search (Search Database and Index Files) Site Collections (size of 15 gigabytes (GB) or smaller) Single Sign-on (Database and Encryption Key)
Server Farm (SQL Databases are not backed up using the SharePoint Server iDataAgent) Connectivity between Virtual Server and Portal Site DataBase, Site Content DataBase, TeamSite DataBase except Databases themselves Portal Site Indexes Single Sign-on (Encryption Key) Site Collections	Server Farm (SQL Databases are not backed up using the SharePoint Server iDataAgent) Connectivity between Web Application and Web Application Content Database Shared Service Provider (Search Index files) Single Sign-on (Encryption Key) Site Collections

For Windows SharePoint Services (SharePoint Server 2003), Team Site Databases and Site Collections (top level sites) are secured.
For Windows SharePoint Services (SharePoint Server 2007), Web Application Content Databases, WSS Search, and Site Collections (top level sites) are secured.

Data Secured by the Document Backup Sets

The Document Backup Sets are used to back up and restore Site Collections, sub-sites, Areas (content on SharePoint 2003 Areas and the Area itself), Libraries, and Lists.

Data	SharePoint Server 2003/2007 (common)	SharePoint Server 2007 (only)
Columns	User-defined Columns: Number Single line of text Multiple lines of text Yes/No Calculated Date and Time	Same support as common.
Alerts	Alerts associated with Documents and List Items (requires creating registry key dwBackupAlerts, which will back up the Alerts associated with Documents and List Items. For more information, see SharePoint registry keys).	Same support as common.
Libraries	Document Libraries Form Libraries Picture Libraries	Page Libraries Report Libraries Slide Libraries Translation Management Libraries Wiki Page Libraries
Lists	Announcements Calendars Contacts Custom Lists (and in Datasheet Views) Discussions Issues Links Surveys Tasks	Converted Forms Custom Workflow Process Data Connection History Datasources Languages and Translators No Code Workflows
Views	Library and List Views	Same support as common.

SharePoint Data Secured by the File System iDataAgent

In addition to the data stored on the SharePoint Server, there may be data stored on Web Server. Such data is not backed up by the SharePoint Server iDataAgent. To secure this data you must back it up using the File System iDataAgent on the Web Server computer.

Alternate Access Mapping (WSS 3.0)
Root Directories of SharePoint Services - Extended Virtual Servers
Custom Solutions Deployed (WSS 3.0)
Custom Web Part Assemblies
Custom Templates
IIS metabase
IIS Root Directories (including web.config files)
Add-in software:
- Language Template Packs
- Web Part page solutions (3rd-party developed aspx pages that include Web Parts)
- Templates that work with Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Office Web Parts and Components, which is a collection of Web Parts

SharePoint Data Secured by the SQL iDataAgent in a Server Farm

SQL Database on a remote server

Data that is not Secured by the SharePoint Server iDataAgent

Record this information and store it in a safe place, as part of your disaster recovery planning. For more information about Full System Restore, refer to Restore Data - SharePoint Server iDataAgent - Full System Restore.

Data that is not Secured by the Database Backup Set

The following information is not backed up by the system and the farm must be rebuilt in the event a Full System Restore is required:

SharePoint Server 2003/2007 (common)	SharePoint Server 2007 (only)
Configuration Database	Global Search Settings Central Administration Web Application Central Administration Content Database
The following information must be recorded for use in the event a Full System Restore is required: E-Mail Server Settings Anti-virus Settings Blocked File Types Logging Settings HTML Viewer Usage Analysis Processing Shared Services

Data that is not Secured by the Document Backup Set

The following information is not backed up by the system, and must be recorded for use in the event a Full System Restore is required:

For Sites, Alerts, Registry Keys
For Meeting Workspaces, Pages list – multiple-page Meeting Workspaces, Meeting Series list, Recurring Meeting workspaces -- not restored as recurring and only List items for current meeting are backed up.
Library items that have a size of 0Kb will not be backed up. Exceptions may be thrown with these empty library items.
For Lists, Issues List (Issue Items are restored but the Issue History is not)
Information Management Policy Settings for libraries and lists.
Library document templates.
If a backslash ('\') character is present in a List item name, it cannot be backed up. To successfully back up the List item, it is recommended to rename the item without the backslash.
Picture Library Photos associated with a Blog site
Portal and Area listings (SharePoint 2003 only)
Recycle Bins
Views for Galleries (List Template, Site Template, Web Part Template)¹
Web Discussions

¹Views can be be backed up with a Database Backup Set via a Site Collection.

Data that cannot be retrieved with SharePoint Offline Mining

The following types of data cannot be retrieved when mining SharePoint data from an offline mining database:

Documents from Portal Area Libraries for SharePoint 2003 databases.

Tree Levels in the SharePoint Server iDataAgent

When the SharePoint Server iDataAgent is installed, the following levels are automatically created in the CommCell Browser:

metal: Client

SharePoint Server
MS SharePoint Server iDataAgent: Agent

Databases: Backup Sets

Documents: Backup Sets

default: Subclients

License Requirement

To perform a data protection operation using this Agent a specific Product License must be available in the CommServe^® Server.

Review general license requirements included in License Administration. Also, View All Licenses provides step-by-step instructions on how to view the license information.

The SharePoint Server iDataAgent requires the following two licenses:

iDataAgent for MS SharePoint Database is consumed during the installation of the software and each installed instance uses a license.
iDataAgent for MS SharePoint Document is consumed during the installation of the software and each installed instance uses a license.

Disaster Recovery Considerations

Before you use your agent, be sure to review and understand the associated full system restore (or disaster recovery) procedure. The procedure for some agents may require that you plan specific actions or consider certain items before an emergency occurs. See Disaster Recovery for more information regarding your agent.