metadata_level

--metadata_level={{mailboxes_only|1}|{folders_and_mailboxes|2}|{all|3}}

The parameter is used with the backup exchange_database command. The parameter defines the amount of metadata collected during a backup. The more detailed the metadata is, the longer the backup creation takes. However, the browsing and recovery of individual e-mails and other items contained in the mailboxes will be faster.

If a database was backed up with a non-default parameter value then, in order to access individual e-mails, the software has to open the database directly from the backup and apply transaction logs to the database. This process may take considerable time depending on the number of transaction logs contained in the backup.

Note that individual e-mails can be browsed and recovered only by using graphical user interface. If you use only command-line interface, or if you need to recover only entire folders and mailboxes, you can safely set the value to mailboxes_only or folders_and_mailboxes in order to speed up backups.

Available values of the parameter are as follows:

• mailboxes_only or 1

  The metadata will be the least detailed and the backup will be the fastest. Only mailboxes and public folders can be accessed without opening a database.

• folders_and_mailboxes or 2

  Individual folders within mailboxes and public folders can be accessed without opening a database.

• all or 3 (by default)

  The metadata will be the most detailed and the backup will take the longest time to complete. Individual e-mails and other items within mailboxes and public folders can be accessed without opening a database.