Restore Data - Exchange Server - Full System Restore

Topics | How To | Full System Restore | Related Topics

Overview

Considerations

Perform Exchange Server Recovery

Restore Single or Multiple Exchange Databases

Overview

In the case of disaster recovery, where a full system restore is required, the system must be rebuilt to exactly the state as it existed before the problem. In some cases, where the Exchange database is corrupted, the Exchange Server software must be reloaded and Exchange rebuilt. The Exchange database can only be restored to its originating machine, therefore it must be exactly re-created.

The difference between a normal restore and a full system restore is the severity of the problem. Normally, if data is lost or removed, it is recovered from the archives using the normal restore procedures. However, when a normal restore operation cannot correct a software and/or hardware corruption problem, some additional changes may be required.

When rebuilding the Exchange Server, also refer to the Exchange Server documentation in each of the components.

Using the Exchange Mailbox, Public Folder, or Web Folder iDataAgents for system recovery does not fully recover every part of the database. We recommend using the Exchange Database iDataAgent, with full backups, to perform the recovery. Therefore the Exchange Database iDataAgent should also be installed and full backup scheduling enforced.

Considerations

Restoring the Entire Machine

If a System State or File System restoration is necessary on the system where the Exchange Server resides, refer to the procedures in Restore Data - Windows File Systems - Full System Restore - How To. Once the computer is operational, continue to the procedure to Restore Single or Multiple Exchange Databases. Basically, the machine may need a Full System rebuild prior to recovering the Exchange Server.

If the Active Directory is corrupted and resides on the Exchange Server

Refer to the procedures in Restore Data - Windows File Systems - Full System Restore - How To. If the Exchange Server is the only object missing or corrupt in the Active Directory, follow the procedure to Perform Exchange Server Recovery.

If the Active Directory is corrupted and does not reside on the Exchange Server

Refer to the procedures in Restore Data - Windows File Systems - Full System Restore - How To to rebuild the machine that Active Directory resides on. If the Exchange Server is the only object missing or corrupt in the Active Directory, you can restore the Exchange Server objects using a non-authoritative System State restore.

If the Exchange Server requires an SRS database recovery

It is necessary to have the SRS service functioning before restoring the database. SRS is backed up as part of the System State. Refer to the procedures in Restore Data - Windows File Systems - Full System Restore - How To.

If the Exchange Server requires a KMS database recovery

Refer to the procedures in Restore Data - Windows File Systems - Full System Restore - How To to restore the File System and System State. If the Exchange Server was the certificate authority, this will be included with the Key Management System by restoring the System State. If the KMS application data is missing or corrupt, this will be included by restoring the File System data. The default location of the program data is \Program Files\Exchsrvr\KMSDATA.

If the Exchange Server resides on a Cluster Server

If the Cluster Server is corrupt, refer to the procedures in Restore Data - Windows File Systems - Full System Restore - How To. If the Cluster Server is operational and only the Exchange Server needs recovery, follow the procedure to Perform Exchange Server Recovery.

Perform Exchange Server Recovery

In some cases an Exchange database may become corrupted. In that event, a new installation of the Exchange Server software is required, prior to a restoration of the database. The procedure below describes this type of rebuild.

To perform Exchange Server Recovery:

1. If Active Directory contains the Exchange Server Objects, run Exchange Setup in Disaster Recovery mode (setup /disasterrecovery). If the Exchange Server objects are not present in Active Directory, refer to Restoring the System State. You can choose to reinstall Exchange Server but you must use the identical information structure and hierarchy as the original Exchange Server. In either instance, you must install Exchange Server to the same location it was originally installed to. In a clustered environment, you must reinstall to the same virtual node as was being used previously. If setup in disaster recovery mode is used, do not restart the machine upon completion of setup in disaster recovery mode. Continue to the next step.

   Check to see whether the Exchange Services are started. If the Exchange Services are not started, then you will need to start them before continuing.

2. Verify that Circular Logging for all storage groups is disabled.
3. If there is software currently running on the server that may attempt to access the Exchange database, such as Virus Scan, disable it at this time.

   Apply any Exchange Service Packs which were installed at the time of the backup.

4. Perform a full restore of the Exchange database (see Restore Single or Multiple Exchange Databases) by selecting all Exchange databases requiring a restore.
5. If desired, enable any software that was disabled in a previous step.
6. Verify the server is operational.
7. Perform a full backup of the Exchange database to ensure the existence of current archive.

Restore Single or Multiple Exchange Databases

To restore single or multiple Exchange Databases:

1. If you are restoring the Key Management Service (KMS) database, verify that the Key Management Server data directory is empty (typically \Program Files\Exchsrvr\KMSDATA), and make sure that the Microsoft Exchange Key Management Service is started.
2. If you are restoring the Site Replication Service (SRS) database, verify that there are no *.edb, *.log or *.chk files in the Exchsrvr\srsdata folder, and verify that the Microsoft Exchange Site Replication Service is started.
3. Launch the CommCell Console from the Start | Programs menu, or by clicking the CommCell Console icon on your desktop.
4. From the Connect to CommCell logon window, log on by entering your CommCell user name and password. The CommCell Console window is displayed.
5. From the CommCell Browser tree, right-click the Exchange Database iDataAgent icon, select All Tasks and then click Browse Backup Data.
6. From the Browse Options dialog, click OK. (We'll use the default settings.)
7. The Browse window is displayed, which shows the Exchange Server databases.
8. From the Browse window, select the database(s) to be restored, then click Recover All Selected.
9. On the Restore Options (General) dialog, verify the information displayed in the Job Details pane.
10. Select the Dismount Database During Restore option to have the system automatically dismount any stores that will be restored. If you are restoring the entire Exchange Server, then all stores will be dismounted.
11. To automatically mount the stores after the restoration, select the Mount database after restore option. Note that this option will be disabled if only KMS or SRS databases have been selected for restore.
12. When restoring encrypted data, refer to Data Encryption.
13. Click the Job Initiation tab and select the appropriate option to begin or schedule the restore, then click OK.
14. Once the job begins, the system will perform a full restore of the items selected, and you can track the status of the job in the Job Controller.
15. If you restored the KMS database, make sure that you stop and then re-start the Microsoft Exchange Key Management Service after the restore has successfully completed.
16. If you restored the SRS database, make sure that you stop and then re-start the Microsoft Exchange Site Replication Service after the restore has successfully completed.

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