Server Recovery from Backup Tape

Here is an example of a server recovery using a backup tape of an information store and directory service from a production server. Backup type is set to normal, for a full online backup of the information store and directory. During the Exchange software installation, do not join the site. Instead select Create New Site. Even though you select to create a new site, the tape backup of the Exchange directory database, upon restart, restores to the server its site identity, causing it to synchronize with other servers in the site automatically.

Prepare Recovery Computer

 

The recovery computer must have:

  • Windows NT installed.
  • The same computer name as the crashed Exchange server.
  • The same role as the crashed server: if the server was a BDC, add the recovery server to the production domain as a BDC (meaning you have to delete then re-add the computer name on the PDC to create a new SID for the recovery computer).
  • The same Windows NT service packs installed as the production server.
  • Enough disk space to restore the entire information store and directory from the backup tape.
  • A tape drive compatible with tape drives deployed on production servers.

 

To expedite the restore process, keep a copy of the Windows NT installation code and service pack on the recovery computer's hard disk. Keep the production Windows NT Server configuration sheet handy for pertinent settings including protocol addresses, partitioning information, protocols, options, tuning, and so forth.

 

Recovery server preparation process:

1. Log on to Windows NT as a domain administrator.

 

2. Run the Exchange Server Setup program. If you are not using Exchange Server 4.0, you can use Setup /R to recover an existing Exchange server onto new hardware.

 

3. Make sure the server name is the same as that of the original production computer.

 

4. Select Create New Site (do not select Join Existing Site).

 

5. Use the same organization and site names.

 

6. Select the same service account that was used on the original production server.

 

7. Install the same connectors that were installed on the original production server.

 

8. Run the Exchange Performance Optimizer to optimize Exchange for the same configuration that was used for the production server. Refer to your production server configuration documentation.

 

9. Install the same Exchange service pack as was installed on the original production server when the last backup was made. Again, if you are not using Exchange server 4.0, use Update /R.

 

10. If the Microsoft Mail (MS Mail) Connector was installed on the original server, configure it identically on the new server. The X.400 and other site connectors save their configuration information in the Exchange directory, but the MS Mail Connector saves it there and in the Windows NT registry. To recreate these registry entries, you must configure the MS Mail Connector before restoring the Exchange directory. If you had third-party connectors installed on the original server, they may also require configuration. Refer to your production server's documentation.

 

11. If the Key Management server was installed on the original server, install it on the new server.

 

12. Install Exchange Client or Outlook on the recovery server.

 

Follow the appropriate procedure below to restore Exchange data.

Run the Restore

 
 

Online Backup Available

 

This process assumes you are using the Exchange-aware NTBACKUP.EXE program that ships with Exchange Server. If you are using another backup program, please refer to its documentation.

If you have an online backup of the Exchange server, follow these steps:

 

1. Insert the restore tape.

 

2. From the Administrative Tools group, click the Backup icon.

 

3. Double-click the Tapes icon.

 

4. Double-click "Full Backup Tape&ldots;." This displays a Catalog Status screen "&ldots;Catalog Status&ldots;Loading set list from tape."

 

5. On the right panel, select the Directory and Information Store.

 

6. Click the Restore button from the top of the Backup window. This displays the Restore Information dialog box.

 

7. If changes were made on the original production server after the last backup and you have the server's transaction logs, skip to the procedure that follows this one.

Note: If your public information store is on a separate server, contact Microsoft Technical Support for assistance. The next step calls for erasing the public store; do not do this if your public information store is on a separate computer.

 

8. On the Restore Information screen enter the name of the destination server. Select Erase all Existing Data. Verify that the Private, Public, Start Services After Restore, and Verify after Restore options are all selected. Click OK.

 

9. Click OK on the Restore Information dialog to display the Restore Status dialog.

 

10. After the restore is completed click OK on the Restore Status dialog box.

 

11. Close the Backup program.

 

This restores the Exchange directory service and information store to their state as of the last backup.

If changes were made on the original production server after the last backup and you have the server's transaction logs, follow these steps:

 

1. On the new server, move out all files from the MDBDATA and DSADATA directories on each drive.

 

2. Copy the transaction log files from DSADATA and MDBDATA directories on the original server to the corresponding locations of the logs on the new server. If you are not sure where to copy the log files, check these registry entries:

 

Directory service log path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Services \MSExchangeDS \Parameters \Database log files path

 

Information store service log path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Services \MSExchangeDS \ParametersSystem \DB Log Path

 

3. Run the Backup program to restore the directory service and information store data. Follow steps 1 through 6 in the procedure above.

 

4. On the Restore Information screen do not select Erase All Existing Data. Select Verify After Restore and Start Services After Restore. Click OK. (If the directory service and information store were backed up using separate backup jobs, be sure not to start services until both have been restored.) Make sure that you do not select Erase All Existing Data&emdash;it erases all the transaction logs copied from the original server.

 

5. Click OK on the Restore Information dialog box to display the Restore Status dialog.

 

6. After the restore is completed click OK on the Restore Status dialog.

 

7. Close the Backup program.

 

Offline Backup Available

 

If you have an offline backup of the Exchange directory and information store, follow these steps:

1. Stop all Exchange services.

 

2. Determine the location of the database and logs for the directory service and information store service, from these registry locations:

Directory service log path:

 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Services \MSExchangeDS \Parameters \Database log files path

 

Directory service database path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Services \MSExchangeDS \Parameters \DSA Database file

 

Information store service log path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Services \MSExchangeIS \ParametersSystem \DB Log Path

 

Private information store database path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Services \MSExchangeIS \ParametersPrivate \DB Path

 

Public information store database path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Services \MSExchangeIS \ParametersPublic \DB Path

 

3. Copy the DIR.EDB file (it should be in the DSADATA directory) to the directory service database path.

 

4. Copy any directory service log files to the directory service log path.

 

5. Copy the PRIV.EDB file to the private information store database path.

 

6. Copy the PUB.EDB file to the public information store database path.

 

7. Copy any information store log files to the information store service log path.

 

8. Start the Exchange directory service.

 

9. From the command prompt, change to the EXCHSRVR\BIN directory and execute:

isinteg &endash;patch

 

10. Start the information store service.