Restoring your database(s) becomes essential when your database gets corrupted. The following section explains how to restore your Exchange Server data using BDR Client for Applications.

Pre-requisites to check before getting started with the MS Exchange Server process:

• MS Exchange Server should be running.
• The database to be restored must be dismounted.
• ‘This database can be overwritten by a restore’ option must be checked for each database (Right-click store, click Properties, and select Database).
• A copy of current *.edb, *.stm, *.log and other related files from the DB storage location to be stored in a separate location.
• In Exchange 2003 and 2007, restores have to be carried out at the Storage Group level and not at the database level. This is because all the databases within a Storage Group share a common set of logs and skipping any database during restore will make the Exchange System inconsistent.

Beginning the Restore

• To begin the restore process, click the Restore tab. From the list of displayed backup(s) select the MS Exchange Server backup that is to be restored.

Select the Restore Type

• Upon selecting the Restore option, you must decide between two options.
  • Restore data from the backup server – This option will proceed to restore data directly from the backup server
  • I have previously restored data from my backup server to a local folder. I now want to use this data to restore the Exchange Server.

• If the second option is selected for restore, then ensure that:
  • Exchange Server backup data was restored from the backup server locally through the menu
    • Select the Recovery tab, click the List of backups action and choose to proceed to restore backup option and transfer to the client machine.

or

• If you have selected the previous option ‘Restore data from the backup server only (I will separately run Vembu NetworkBackup through the ‘locally restored files’ to restore the Exchange Server later)’ in “Step 4: Confirm Exchange Server Restore Settings” of the Restore Exchange Server Data page(during the previous restore).

• Enter the local restore location and click “Submit Location” to restore Exchange Server data from the local folder.

Step 1: Select version to restore

A tree listing various backup time-stamps with the full backup as its parent node will be displayed. This list generated is based on incremental and retention configured. The Restore version will be in the following format: Day/Date/Month/Year/Hours/Minutes/Seconds. Click Next to select the databases for restore. It further has the following options:

• Job Name- The name of the backup which you are restoring. It is a non-editable field.
• Backup Server- The name of the backup server, is a non-editable field. If replication is enabled and the replication server is added/discovered in the client machine, the user can choose the server from the drop-box.

Step 2: Select Database(s)

Select the database from the Exchange Server. Choosing the (+) icon will expand the list further and display the list of files generated based on the chosen time-stamp/version.

• Restore location – Also specify the location to which the restore has to occur. The restored backup will have the original folder structure. Once done configuring the databases and restore location, Click Next to proceed further with your restore process.

Note: Ensure you have chosen an empty directory for restore and make sure the location path does not exceed the 256 character limit. Ensure the drive has enough storage space.

Step 3: Select Restore Option

This option allows two types of restores possible. They are:

• After restoring data from the backup server, continue to the auto restore data into the Exchange server – This option will delete all existing data in the location and overwrite it with the backup data that is being restored. The files predominantly overwritten are EDB files. This is the default option chosen.
• Restore data from the backup server only (I will separately restore ‘locally restored files’ into Exchange Server later) – This option will be applicable if you have chosen ‘I have previously restored data from my backup server to a local folder. I now want to use this data to restore the Exchange Server option in the beginning.

Password Protected- If you had password-protected the backup schedule, you will need to provide the password here.

Exchange Server Name- Name of Exchange server from which backup is configured (and to which data has to be restored).

Last Restore Set (Log file replay will start after this restore completes)- Check this option, if this is the last backup set to restore before you remount databases.

Mount database after restore- Check this option if this is the last backup set you plan to restore and ready to mount the database once the restore completes.

Note: It is recommended not to check this option unless this is the last backup set.

Select the above check-boxes, if any of the following conditions apply:

• Restoring from a normal(full) backup without any incremental or differential backups.
• Restoring from the final incremental backup.
• Restoring from the final differential backup.

Step 4: Review Configurations

You have reached the final step of the restore process wherein you have to review the configuration you have provided and click Restore Now option. This will trigger the restoration process. Review restore progress and make sure it gets completed successfully.

You can suspend your restore if not required from the Suspend option available in that window. You will get a pop-up as shown below. Click OK to Suspend your restore.