Restoring the information store.

[Duran]

Hello.

I am running Brightstor 11.5. I have been backing up the exchange 2003 information store and now I need to recover it in order to retrieve some lost folders from a users mailbox. I intended to restore the information store to a folder, then create a Recovery Storage group to put it in and get the mailbox folders back using exmerge.

However, when I tried to retore the IS to a folder it would not and came up with a box saying it could not restore it there, the box also said \\server\exchgeIS or something similar. Do I have to create the RSG first and then restore the IS to it?

I havent done this before so any help and tips would be fantastic.

Thanks in advance for any help,
D.

I plug you in, dim the lights
Electric Barbarella !

 

[TheMisio]

Hi Duran,

As far as I know, if you’re performing an online Information Store backup, you cannot restore it into a folder as if it was a flat file.
Furthermore, you have to restore it to its original location, or server with the same name and the AD structure. I had a similar problem before, and in the end I had to build similar system, and restore the IS DB this way. The only way you can restore some info, i.e. Mail Box, Calendar to a location other than the original, is to back up the Exchange at the brick or document level.

If there is any other way, I would be very interested to know how, as I back up several Exchange Organisations and I would like to be able to manipulate the IS Database.

Regards,

Michael

 

[vschumpy]

There is a document available which shows how to restore to RSG's:

http://supportconnect.ca.com/sc/redir.jsp?reqPage=search&searchID=TEC386271

 

[crownit]

I'm facing the same situation with having to restore a mailbox. I've read the MS article on RSG's and I think i'm comfortable with the process - has anyone out there actually done this?

I'm looking for some success stories to boost my confidence - I don't want to screw anything up with our live mailstore.. =)

 

[jfrantz]

I would set up a temporary Exchange server (physical or virtual) and restore to it rather than messing with your production box. It's easy to corrupt your database and not worth the risk/headache. Besides, it will give you valuable practice at recovering data for the next time it's needed.

-Jeff