Restoring Microsoft Exchange 2010 Database from Backup

The motherboard of your Exchange server has suddenly become non-functional and there is no way out but to restore Exchange server and its database. You can restore it from backup. Read on to understand, how to restore Exchange 2010 database from backup and if the backup is not available, get the exchange 2010 database restored using other options like recovery database or mailbox exchange recovery software.

Be it from backup or recovery database or mailbox exchange recovery software, exchange database should be recovered as it is the communication lifeline for any organization.

When should you restore Exchange 2010 Database?

• Exchange server crashes and needs database mounting on restored server
• Exchange database gets corrupt, then restore Exchange 2010 database from backup
• Exchange server is upgraded then restore exchange database. In this case, database can be restored for version 2010 or above.

Use Windows server backup to restore Exchange 2010 Database

MS Exchange servers have a plugins for Windows server backup and enable users to create volume shadow copy service (VSS) based backups for Exchange database. This Windows server backup can be used to restore your Exchange 2010 databases.

During Backup operation, ensure that backup is in a healthy state and it’s readable. If backup database consistency checks are successful, you can use this Exchange data for recovery from that backup.

Prerequisites for database recovery from backup

• Most of the time, the system is not version supported, then user is stuck. Backup can be performed locally on a computer running Exchange 2010 in Windows server 2008 or Windows server 2008 R2 operating system.
• Windows server must have backup application installed to capture backup. If you are using local system for backup ensure that application is installed on local system.
• Schedule a downtime and inform all stakeholders
• Assign permissions on the server for backup to take place

Steps to restore Exchange 2010 database from Windows backup server

1. Click to Start Windows Server Backup
2. Click Recover in the Actions The Recovery wizard appears.
3. On the Getting Startedpage, perform either of the two options:
   • If the data being recovered was backed up from the server on which Windows Server Backup is running, select this server (ServerName), and then click on Next.
   • If the data being recovered is not available on the server on which Windows Server Backup is running, or if the backup being recovered is located on another system, select another server, and then click on Next. On the page Specify location type, select Local drives or Remote shared folder, and then click on Next.

4. Select the date and time of the backup that you want to recover from Select backup datepage, and then click on Next.
5. On the Select recovery typepage, select Applications, and then click on Next.
6. On the Select applicationpage, verify that Exchange is selected in the Applications Click View Details to view the application components of the backups. Click on Next.
7. On the Specify recovery options page, select where you want to recover the data, and then click on Next
8. Select Recover to the original location to recover backed up data to its original location.
9. On the Confirmation page, review recovery settings, and then click on Recover.
10. Click Close when recovery is complete.

In case you have not backed up your Exchange 2010 database on Windows server, you can restore from Recovery database. To restore database from the recovery database, you should be aware of this term.

You may also like to read in detail about Exchange 2010 Mailbox Database Backup and Restore with Windows Server Backup

What is Recovery Database?

Recovery Database is a distinctive database which allows users to mount a restored mailbox database for recovery. Recovery database or RDB enables user to recover data from backup or database copy without hindering with accessibility to current database.

Prerequisites to restore Exchange 2010 database from recovery database:

• Users should have a RDB created for Exchange database
• Database and Log files must comprise recovered data to be restored to RDB folder, created along with RDB
• Exchange 2010 database should be in clean shutdown state. In case it is in dirty shutdown state, use the internal utility Eseutil /R to convert it into the clean shutdown state.

You should use Shell to restore Exchange 2010 Database from recovery database. Next use New-MailboxRestoreRequest to extract database on Exchange 2010 server.

Steps to restore Exchange 2010 database from Recovery Database

1. Open Exchange Management Shell on the Exchange2010 server
2. Run the command: New-MailboxDatabase -Recovery -Name %RDBName% -Server %ExchangeServerName%

RDBName is name of Recovery database and Exchangeservername is the name of Exchange server where you need to create RCB

3. Set location with the following command: New-MailboxDatabase -Recovery -Name %RDBName% -Server %ExchangeServerName% -EdbFilePath %targetDBPath% -logFolderPath %targetlogPath%
4. Get Mailbox Database: Right-click on RDB, select Properties. The general should show “dismounted” and maintenance tab will have the “This database can be overwritten by a restore” checked
5. Confirm recovery mailbox database has been created. Next open DPM console and navigate to recovery tab
6. Locate mailbox database, locate user and select the time you wish to recover. User is highlighted. Click on Recover from the Actions menu
7. Select the recovery type
8. The Specify Destination screen will now prompt you for the Exchange server and database name
9. On Specify Recovery Options page, select to mount the database after it’s recovered among other settings. Verify you have the selections you want and click on Next
10. Restore using following command: Restore-Mailbox –Identity %Username% -RecoveryDatabase %RDBName%

Username is email username of the user mailbox to be recovered and RDB will be name of Recovery Database

11. Extract database with New-MailboxRestoreRequest on Exchange 2010 server

You may also like to read in detail on Restoring Exchange database using a recovery database

What if you are stuck with restore Exchange 2010 Database process?

When you are unable to restore the database even after backup and recovery database option, you should download and install Stellar Repair for Exchange software. The Stellar developed tool has an interactive graphical user interface which guides users to perform application tasks with ease.

Exchange 2010 Database Recovery is possible with single as well as multiple files. The best part of this tool is that the software’s scanning algorithms search for recoverable files in a corrupt database and repairs all EDB files to PST file format which can be easily exported on Exchange 2010 database for easy restore.

At times you are unable to save files after these are scanned and repaired. You have the option to Save scan and load the scanned file directly. This saves time and effort for you. Recovered mailbox contents are directly exported to Exchange 2010 server but this facility is available with version 2010 and above. Restore Exchange 2010 database to a current or new server location.

Conclusion

Exchange database is the support system of an organization. It should have a backup available in the readable and accessible form, else there has to be recovery database availability. If both these options are amiss; switch to application Stellar Repair for Exchange and restore Exchange 2010 database.

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