The Internet Information Services (IIS) metabase is a hierarchical database that is similar to the registry. The IIS metabase includes information that affects Exchange 2000, such as protocol settings for POP3, IMAP4, NNTP, or HTTP; virtual directories for mailbox, public folder, and instant messaging access; and HTTP security settings.

If your backup strategy includes keeping a current Windows backup set (which includes System State data), you do not need to back up IIS separately because IIS is included in a System State data backup. If you want to back up or restore the IIS metabase separately, you can use the Backup/Restore Configuration command within the IIS snap-in.

Alternatively, you can save a copy of the Metabase.bin file located in the System Root\System 32 Inetsrv folder.
Note If you want to be able to restore the IIS metabase without having to restore all of the System State data, consider keeping a separate back up of the IIS metabase. For example, if you discover problems with IIS, it is quicker to restore a separate IIS metabase backup than to restore System State data.
However, if the entire server is damaged, a separate IIS metabase backup is not helpful because the metabase depends on encryption keys that are backed up with other parts of the System State data.

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Premium Edition
• Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Standard Edition
• Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server