Data Restoration

RESTORING DATA

This is the most important task that any system administrator/engineer should know. In case of hardware failure.

Restoring an e-mail
- Once email has been deleted at deleted items. It will still be available depending on how long the keep deleted items in Exchange server is configured. To restore email over an outlook client just click Tools > Recover Deleted Items.



This option by default is gray out. To enable recover deleted items open regedit and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Exchange\Client\Options. Create a new dword value DumpsterAlwaysOn see image below.

Recovering Deleted Mailbox

Mailbox can also be recovered depends on how long we set the don't delete deleted mailbox within the duration period. To recover open up System Manager > Tool > Mailbox Recovery Center. Right click and choose Add Mailbox Store



Type in mailbox store and check names to verify click ok



Right click on mailbox recovery center and click Find Match. Follow the wizard. Right click on the restored mailbox and click reconnect and specify the user who owns the mailbox.

Restoring Deleted Items with ExMerge

Exmerge is use if deleted items are not available in recover deleted items of outlook. This could happen if mails already laps the days retention. Exmerge.exe can be download at support.microsoft.com website. Extract exmerge at C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\bin create a shortcut to desktop for easier access.

To recover using ExMerge create a new recovery storage group.



Right click and select Add Database to Recover. Choose the mailbox store and click ok. (DO NOT MOUNT IT YET)


Open Backup Utility and restore ONLY the mailbox store. This is only applicable to mailbox storage group and not to public folders. Specify the server to restore to and set a temp location for logs and check on last restore set and mount store. Run the restore process. The restoration will fail if you include public folders.



Run Exmerge select One Step procedure click next. Specify the source and destination server.



Select the Database to use which will be recovery storage group.



Select the user mailbox who needs to restore mails.



Click next



Specify the folder for the .pst file and follow the remaining wizard.

Recovering a Corrupted Mailbox Store
Dismount your corrupted mailbox database, rename your mailbox database which are .edb and .stm files located at C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\MDBDATA. Create and mount a new mailbox database.

Restore last backup and mount recovery storage group. Dismount live mailbox store (newly created) and mailbox of recovery storage group. Swap the database file location.


Open properties of Live and Recovery mailbox store and check the box This Database can be overwritten by a restore. Mount both database and system is now up and running. Mails that user received during temporary mailbox store can be move by using ex-merge.

Troubleshooting Tools for Exchange Admin

• Must meet the hardware/software requirements
• Permissions to run Forestprep and Domainprep
• Active directory and DNS available

Recovering an Exchange 2003 Member Server

1. Copy system state, IIS metabase, mailbox backup to a storage device
   
2. Prepare identical hardware and install windows server 2003
3. Restore the system state and IIS metabase
4. Apply service packs and patches.
5. Install other applications such as Microsoft Office
6. Run exchange setup with /disasterrecovery swith installing in the same path and volume.
7. Restore exchange database & logs
8. recreate full-text indexes.