Offline Database Restore

System State Method

The Active Directory offline mining enables you to browse and recover directory server database objects and their attributes from an offline copy of the directory databases. This feature is useful when you want to restore specific objects or attributes from a live active directory database without restoring the entire database. You can browse multiple versions of the database to compare values of attributes and then recover the required version of the attribute.

The system state method of creating an offline copy of the directory server database consists of following steps:

Ensure that the source and destination computer satisfy the prerequisites.
Create an Offline Copy.
Mine and Restore the required attributes and objects from the offline batabase to the live active directory (source) database.

Prerequisites

Before creating the offline copy, ensure that the source and destination clients satisfy the following requirements:

Source Computer

Destination Computer

Ensure that the computer has one of the following Windows operating systems:

Microsoft Windows Server 2003
Microsoft Windows Server 2008

Ensure that the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Active Directory iDataAgent are installed on the destination computer.

Do not run the adLdapTool.exe utility on the destination computer.

Do not turn off the LDS role on the destination computer.

License Requirements

The Active Directory Offline Mining feature requires the Offline Mining Enabler for Active Directory license. See License Administration for more information.

Creating an Offline Copy of the DataBase

You can use the Windows File System iDataAgent to backup the system state on the Active Directory Server. The system state data includes the active directory component. You can use this component to create an offline copy of the directory server database. Follow the steps given below to create an offline copy on the destination computer.

Configuring System State Backup

By default, system state data is backed up along with file system data by the default subclient. You can also create a separate subclient to back up the system state. Within any backup set, however, only one subclient can back up the system state. Follow the steps given below to configure a subclient for system state backup:

1.	From the CommCell Console, navigate to Client Computers \| <Client> \| File System \| defaultBackupset. Right-click default subclient and select Properties.
2.	Click the Content tab. Clear the Backup System State check box. Click OK.
2.	From the CommCell Console, navigate to Client Computers \| <Client> \| File System. Right-click the defaultBackupset and then click All Tasks \| New Subclient.
3.	Enter the name of the new subclient Select Use VSS for System State check box.
4.	Click the Storage Device tab. In the Storage Policy box, select a Storage Policy name. Click OK.
5.	Click the Content tab. Select the Backup System State check box. Click OK. This new subclient will be used to backup the system state.

Performing the System State Backup

Follow the steps given below to backup the system state data:

From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers | <Client> | File System | defaultBackupSet.
Right-click the subclient that you have configured to backup the system state and click Backup.

Click Full as backup type and then click Immediate.
Click OK.

You can track the progress of the job from the Job Controller window of the CommCell console.

Restoring the Active Directory Component

Follow the steps given below to create an offline copy of the directory server database on the destination computer:

8.	From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers\| <Client> \| File System \| defaultBackupSet Right-click the default subclient and then click Browse Backup Data.
9.	Click OK.
10.	Expand the defaultBackupSet and navigate to System State \| Components Select Active Directory component. Click Recover All Selected.
11.	Select the Destination client. Ensure that the source client and the destination client are in the same CommCell and the destination computer has the Windows 2008 and Active Directory iDataAgent installed on it. Clear the Restore to same folder check box. Click Browse and select a folder on the destination client where you want to store the offline copy of the database. Click OK. Click OK to start the restore. You can monitor the progress of the restore job in the Job Controller window of the CommCell Console.

Mining and Restoring from the Offline Database

You can browse the offline copy of directory server database on the destination computer and then restore the required attributes and objects to the source computer (live active directory server).

12.	From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers\| <Destination Client>. Right-click Active Directory and select Properties. Select the Enable Offline Mining check box. Click OK.
13.	From the CommCell Browser, navigate to Client Computers\| <Destination Client> \| Active Directory. Right-click the defaultBackupSet and then click Browse Backup Data.
14.	Select the Browse/Restore Directory server data from Database(ntds.dit/admntds.dit) file check box. Click Browse and navigate to the folder on the destination client where you have restored the Active Directory components. Select the ntds.dit file and click OK. Click OK.
15.	Click Yes to continue.
16.	Select the required objects and attributes from the offline database. Click Recover All Selected.
17.	Select the client where you want to restore the selected objects and attributes from the Destination client list. Click Edit and enter the username and password for a user account on the destination computer. The user account must be the domain controller administrator account. Enter the username in the following format: <domain_name>\<domain_controller_administrator_user_name> Click OK. Click OK to start the restore.