Offline Database Restore

System State Method Replication Method SnapProtect Method FAQs

The Replication Method provides the facility to mine directory database objects and attributes from replicated copies of the directory database. The Replication Method utilizes the ContinuousDataReplicator to provide continuous replicated copies of the directory database to the destination computer. This method is useful if you are already using ContinuousDataReplicator for data replication in your environment. This method consists of the following steps:

  1. Ensure that the source and destination computer satisfy the prerequisites.
  2. Create an Offline Copy.
  3. Mine and Restore the required attributes and objects from the Offline Database 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 Volume Shadow Services (VSS) are installed on the source computer.

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

Creating an Offline Copy of the Database

Follow the steps given below to create a replicated copy of the directory database:

1.
  • From the CommCell Console, navigate to Client Computers | <Source Client>.
  • Right-click ContinuousDataReplicator and select All Tasks | Add Replication Set.
  • Enter the Name of the replication set.
  • From the Destination Host list, select the destination computer where you want to replicate the offline copy of the database.
  • Click OK.

If the source computer contains more than one ADAM Server instance, create separate replication sets for each instance.

 
2.
  • From the CommCell Console, navigate to Client Computers | <Source Client> | ContinuousDataReplicator.
  • Right-click the <Replication Set>  and select All Tasks | Manage Pairs.

 
3.
  • Click Add.
  • Click Browse on the Add Replication Pair dialog box.
  • Select the folder that contains the directory server database.
  • Click OK.
  • Click Apply
  • Click Close.
4.
  • From the CommCell Console, navigate to Client Computers | <Source Client> | ContinuousDataReplicator | <Replication Set>.
  • Right-click the <Replication Pair> in the right pane and select Start.
  • Click Yes on the Confirmation dialog box.

    All the data is replicated from the Source Path to the Destination Path.

  • Note down the Destination Path.

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 (live active directory server) database. 

5.
  • 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.
6.
  • From the CommCell Console, navigate to Client Computers | <Source Client> | Active Directory.
  • Right-click the <defaultBackupSet> and click All Tasks | Browse Backup Data.
7.
  • Select the Browse/Restore Directory server data from Database(ntds.dt/admntds.dit) file check box.
  • Click Browse and navigate to the folder on the destination client where you have replicated the data from the source computer. Refer to the Destination Path that you noted down in  step 4.
  • Select the ntds.dit file and click OK.
  • Click OK.

 
8. Click Yes to continue.
9.
  • Select the required objects and attributes from the offline database.
  • Click Recover All Selected.
10.
  • 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 domian 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.