Topics | How To
Media Explorer for SharePoint Server provides the ability to restore, without the use of the CommServe, SharePoint data secured by data protection operations. This tool is intended for use in situations where it is not possible to use the CommServe to perform the restore. The Media Explorer on Windows software should be installed on the computer to which the data will be recovered. See Install the Media Explorer - Windows in Books Online for step-by-step instructions.
Media Explorer for SharePoint Server can recover data that has received data protection from the following agents:
After cataloging the media, you are ready to select the appropriate archive file entries and perform a data recovery operation on the files from your media that were secured by data protection operations.
In some cases, SharePoint data may become corrupted. In that event, a new installation of the SharePoint software is required prior to a recovery of the data.
A SharePoint database can be restored to a computer other than its originating machine, and the database files can subsequently be copied back successfully to the SharePoint Server provided that it has not changed or has been properly recreated and you run the appropriate command.
| It is highly recommended that you not use Media Explorer
to recover SharePoint Document or SharePoint Archiver data. To recover this
data, use Media Explorer only as a last option. When using a UNC path to catalog or restore data, MediaExplorer will use the SharePoint Administrator account for the operation and as the login credentials to the UNC path. Thus it is essential that the SharePoint Administrator account have permissions to access the UNC path, or the operation will fail. |
Media Explorer on Windows platforms uses a cataloging process to obtain information about the files secured by data protection operations and stored on your media. Media Explorer creates a local catalog database of media archive file entries through which you manually select the archive files containing the data you need to restore. For more information, see the Catalog the Media.
For any procedure, understanding your archive files and backup cycles is critical.
Regularly running the Media Information report and the CommCell Configuration report prior to the need for a disaster recovery will dramatically facilitate your identification and location of media archive files. With this information at hand, you can catalog only the tapes you need and not the entire library. The CommCell Configuration Report shows the association of a subclient to a storage policy. The Storage Policy Report shows media used. Also, during the cataloging process, you could some information in the Media Explorer dialog box to help you identify affected items for the restore, such as chunks, volumes and volume filemarkers.
The following error message will be displayed if the Erase Data license was enabled in the CommCell when the data protection operation to the media was performed:
Password decryption problem! The CommServer this media belongs to may have an Erase Data License.
If you see this error message, you cannot restore the data from this media using Media Explorer.
For more information, see Catalog the Media.
Archive files are containers in which data protection operations store data objects. Examples of data objects are: File System files and folders; Lotus Notes databases and transaction logs; Exchange stores or storage groups. Index data, used for browsing by the product, is also stored in archive files.
A single data protection operation creates one or more archive files to store the iDataAgent data. An archive file will contain data from only one iDataAgent.
| You must recover the entire archive file entry. Media Explorer does not allow recovery of specific objects (i.e., files, folders, databases, type dependent on application). |
The goal of any data recovery is to reconstruct the state of the system as it existed at a given point in time. You must determine how many and which of the archive file types you will require Media Explorer to recover.
A backup cycle is defined as a group of data recovery operations starting with a full and includes all other data recovery operations up to, but not including, the next full.
Each subclient has its own collection of backup cycles. A subclient backup cycle is considered to be all the data required to recover the individual subclient content. Collectively all subclient backup cycles should be considered as the set of data necessary to recover an object (i.e., File System or application Database) to a specific state or point in time. Depending on the type of data being recovered and your immediate needs, it may or may not be necessary to recover all subclient cycles at one time.