Configuring a preferred server list for a Database Availability Group (DAG)

You can create preferred server configurations for an Exchange Database Availability Groups (DAG). The preferred server list is a collection of one or more servers in the DAG that you select as preferred backup sources. Preferred server configurations take priority as backup sources in instances where database copies are replicated between multiple servers. The preferred server list is required for Passive copy only, unless the database only has an active copy. The list is ignored for Active copy only and is optional for Passive copy if available, or use active copy.

You can let NetBackup choose the best server from which to back up the replicated database copies or you can designate a preferred server list. Designating a preferred server list gives you more control over your backup jobs. For example, you can configure a list of preferred servers that are local to avoid having to back up replicated data over your WAN. You can arrange the servers in order of preference. Or you may have one node of a DAG that contains passive copies for all or most of your databases and that is also a fast media server. Add only this server to your preferred list to make the backup more efficient.

If this algorithm does not choose a server, the database is not backed up. A message appears in the progress log that identifies each database that is skipped for this reason.