RETRIEVING EXCHNAGE DATA FROM DEAD SERVER AND DOMAIN

[PeteH2]

Dear all,

Here is a challange.

Server A is an exchange server, has lost it's domain, and it cannot be restored. No documentation has been kept regading the accounts used to build the server or install exchange. Exchange could be 5.5 from SBS, a standalone 5.5 or an enterprise edition, nobody knows, it just worked and everybody ignored it; Now that it doesnt, it needs to be fixed.

Exchange services will not start because the account information does ont exist. SETUP /R will not work correctly as we are unable to create a 'look-alike' server.

...and now the good news; the drives were mirrored and so a complete copy is available if testing is needed to be done.

Having read exchange books, searched technet and read all of the DR 'backups and cold swap servers are essential' sections I have'nt come up with anything substantial as to get the server up again and am now fast losing the will to live!

It appears that my only option is to import the data back to PST, PAB & CAL files, any suggestions (Apart form 'run away, quickly!'), would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance

Pete...

 

[fuego007]

If the server will run,and you can log in with a local admin account, try the following:

Open the services control panel and set the Exchange System Attendant to start using the local admin account. Start the service.

Start Exchange Administrator and navigate to the Site then Configuration in the tree on the left. Open the properties, and select the Service Account Password tab. This will tell you the name of the domain and account, and let you change the password that Exchange uses for this account. Don't change the password yet.

Set up a PDC for this domain on an isolated network, and connect the server to that domain. To do this, you will have to first make the server a member of a workgroup. You can then join the server to the domain. Create an account on the domain with the name of the service account, using a temporary password.

In Exchange Admin, go to the Configuration properties page as above, and change the Service Account Password. This will change the password for all the services automatically.

Open the services control panel and change the account used to start the System Attendant to the one created above, and set the password accordingly.

If all this works, you should now be able to start the remaining services.

Good luck.