Microsoft Exchange Server data recovery and backup strategy

Microsoft Exchange Server data recovery and backup strategy

Dial A tone database.

First, reset an Exchange database by removing the current database files to create a temporary, blank, "dial tone" database. This allows users to log on to this database to send and to receive mail.

When users log in, new, empty mailboxes are created in the "dial tone" database. Because the new mailboxes have the same values for the msExchMailboxGUID attribute in the "dial tone" database as in the original database, you can use the Exmerge.exe tool to transfer data between the original database and the temporary “dial tone” database.

When the "dial tone" database is set up and is running, you can restore or repair the original database in the Recovery Storage Group. When the restore or the repair operation is complete, dismount both database, and then swap the database files between the original storage group and the Recovery Storage Group.

This enables users to access their previous data, but they cannot access new items.

To restore access to new items, use the Exmerge.exe tool to transfer data from the "dial tone" database to the original database.

RESTORING A BACK-UP.

Ensure that the database that is being restore is not correctly mounted. If there is a database present, make sure that you have a copy of it before you overwrite it, and that the database is configured to allow overwrite.

Procedureto restore a Exchange 2007 back-up.

For the database you want to restore, set it up so that it can be overwritten by running the following exchange management shell command.
Set-MailboxDatabase < restored_database > AllowFileRestore $true

Back up should be started in advanced mode.

Click the Restore and Manage Media tab, and then select the Exchange storage group or database. You might have to rebuild the catalog for the backup that you want to restore, just in case it doesn't appear; using the following steps.
On the Tools, select Catalog a backup file. Select the backup file to be cataloged, and then click OK.
Locate, and then select the backup file under Backup Identification Label.

In the Restore files to list, select the location where you want the files restored. By default, the location specified is Original location.

Click Start Restore to start the restore operation.

In Confirm Restore, click Advanced to specify advanced restore options, or click OK to start the restore.

After the database has been restored, mount the database by running the following Exchange Management Shell command:

Mount-Database <restored_database>

Remove the Do not mount this database at startup setting from the Exchange databases by running the following Exchange Management Shell command:

Set-MailboxDatabase <restored_database> -MountAtStartUp $true