TNT1-101

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Disaster Recovery Michael J. Murphy TechNet Presenter

What we will cover: Preparing for disaster Best practices for backup of Exchange 2003 Mailbox Recovery Center Recovery Storage Group

Prerequisite Knowledge Experience supporting Windows Servers Experience supporting Microsoft Exchange Server 2000 or 2003 Experience supporting clients Level 200

Agenda Backup Best Practices Mailbox Recovery Recovering Stores

Backup Best Practices Backup Applications Windows Backup –Integrates with Windows Server and Exchange –Accesses Information Store directly Shadow Copy –Speeds up backup –New in Windows Server 2003 Third party backup programs

Backup Best Practices Implementing Backups Design and schedule backups –Service level agreement –Tape rotation Leave Circular Logging disabled Log file location –Keep log files and databases on separate drives

Backup Best Practices Types of Backup TypeRecoveryBackup FullOne backup set Fast Large Slow DifferentialLast full backup + latest differential Slower Smaller Faster IncrementalLast full backup + all subsequent incremental sets Slowest Smallest Fastest

Backup Best Practices Backing up the Metabase Exchange requires IIS to function –Backup of IIS configuration is critical Backup with IIS Manager console –Within IIS MMC Backup with iisback.vbs script – Csript \%SystemRoot%\system32\iisback.vbs =kb;en-us;241635&Product=exch2003

Backup Best Practices Planning Best Practices Write out and follow backup procedure –What to backup and how often Keep alternate hardware on hand Run a trial restoration periodically Backup Active Directory

Backup Best Practices Design Best Practices Store log files and Information Store on separate physical drives. Keep Information Store volume under 50% capacity –Speeds restore process –Copy damaged database before restore Increase message and mailbox retention

Backup Best Practices Backing up Exchange with Windows Backup Backing up the metabase Other preparations (item retention settings) demonstration demonstration

Agenda Backup Best Practices Mailbox Recovery Recovering Stores

Mailbox Recovery Deleted Mailbox Retention Mailbox Recovery Center –New in Exchange 2003 –Quickly recovers deleted mailboxes “Retain until backed up” setting Time limit set in System Manager –As resources allow

Mailbox Recovery Recovering Deleted Items Deleted Items folder Recovery Storage Group PST/OST Alternate Server Recovery Exmerge Brick Level Backups

Mailbox Recovery Recovery Storage Group Recovers mailboxes, mailbox stores, and items (not public folders) Prior Versions: Alternate Server Recovery No downtime No additional hardware Differs from Storage Group –MAPI the only protocol –ExMerge the only access to contents –Databases do not mount automatically

Active Directory Users User 1 Exchange Server Recovery Storage Group Recovery Database Recovery Mailbox Storage group Mailbox database Mailbox Mailbox Recovery RSG and Active Directory GUID Attribute msExchMailbox GUID Attribute

Mailbox Recovery PST/OST Restore Method To recover an entire mailbox Laptop or Client computer not yet synchronized to Exchange server Create a PST of the mailbox named “username.pst” Recreate the mailbox on the server Use Exmerge

Mailbox Recovery Exmerge Import/Export tool for Exchange stores Updated for Exchange 2003 Download separately from User rights

Mailbox Recovery Alternate Server Recovery Mailbox no longer exists in mailbox store Deleted mailbox retention period has passed Nearly identical server hardware in a different AD forest Restore from a backup, then use ExMerge to create.pst file Recreate the mailbox on the original server Use Exmerge to import

Mailbox Recovery Brick Level Backups Allows for direct backup and recovery of individual mailboxes Third party applications Slower backup/recovery Bloats backup and mailbox store

Agenda Backup Best Practices Mailbox Recovery Recovering Stores

Recovering Stores Options Recovery Storage Group –Exchange 2000 SP3 or later –Dial-tone method Alternate Server Recovery –Public Folders –Damaged hardware –Separate Active Directory forest Transaction Logs

Recovering Stores Dial-Tone Method Purpose: to minimize user downtime when recovering from a backup Example situation: Corrupted Mailbox Store Exchange features used –Recovery Storage Group –Exmerge 2003 –Mailbox Store re-creation

Recovering Stores Using Dial-Tone Method Recent backup –Incremental or differential plus full Cumulative transaction log files –Improve recovery quality Recovery Storage Group

RSG Dial-Tone Database Recovering Stores Dial-Tone Method: 4 StepsExMergeExMerge

Recovering items and Mailboxes Mailbox Recovery CenterMailbox Recovery Center Restoring items from Recovery Storage GroupRestoring items from Recovery Storage Group demonstration demonstration

Session Summary Preparing for Disaster: –Use best practices for backup Use the Recovery Storage Group –To Recover Mailboxes –To Recover Stores Use Exmerge to recover data from recovered servers or PST/OSTs

For More Information… Main TechNet Web site at Additional resources to support this Session page can be found at

For More Information… Exchange Web Site – Windows Server 2003 Web Site – EN-US;winsvr2003http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh; EN-US;winsvr2003

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Session Credits Author: Bob Carver Producer/Editor: Alan Le Marquand Technical Specialists –Joel Barker –Rob Ling –Aaron Clutter