Restore to Exchange Server is the default restore type. All database and transaction log files are restored directly to the original location. The following conditions must be met in order to perform a successful restore to the original Exchange server:
Condition |
Explanation |
---|---|
Database name and file name must remain unchanged from the time the backup was performed |
The database name is the symbolic or displayable name of the database. For example, Mailbox Database or Mailbox1. The actual database file name, for example Mailbox1.edb, must also be unchanged since the backup was run. Note that the location of the database files and transaction log files may be changed after the backup has been performed, if needed. If the log files or database files must be moved to another volume or disk, the actual names of the database files must be preserved. |
Databases must be dismounted |
For Exchange 2003 and 2007, this includes all databases contained in the storage group. For Exchange 2013 and 2010, only the database being restored must be dismounted. |
Database must be in a Clean Shutdown state |
If the database is in a Dirty Shutdown state, you can restore the backup but need to bring the database into a Clean Shutdown state to mount the database. After restoring, if you cannot mount the database, see this Microsoft article to determine whether this is the problem: Exchange Database Is in a Dirty Shutdown State. |
Databases must be marked as overwrite allowed on restore |
All databases must have the overwrite allowed on restore flag set. This task can be performed using the Exchange Server administrative console or the appropriate Exchange Server command line utility. If this is not the case then the restore will fail. |
Remove all existing database and transaction log files |
It is recommended that all database and transaction log files be removed from the restore location. Restoring a differential, incremental, or a full backup restores the server to a specific point-in-time. To ensure that the storage group or database can be remounted without integrity errors, any existing database and transaction log files should be removed before performing the restore. |
1 Verify all prerequisites have been met, as described in Restoring to the original Exchange server.
2 Select the Exchange client in the Navigation pane and click Restore.
3 Select a Recovery Point Day from which the backup will be restored by clicking on the calendar. Available days display in bold.
4 Specify a Recovery Point Time by selecting a backup in the list, then click Next (Select Options).
• To locate the desired database or storage group, hover over the backups in the list. When you hover, the database or storage group displays.
• Restoring a backup restores the database or storage group to a specific point-in-time state. So selecting a differential or incremental backup also restores the associated full backup.
Note: Restore Items performs an individual item restore directly from the Exchange backup and not a complete Exchange restore. For more information concerning restoring individual items, see Restoring Exchange items .
5 On the Restore from Backup of Client page, verify the backup and database/storage group displayed are the ones you wish to restore. If not, click Cancel and choose another backup.
6 Select Restore to Exchange Server and the desired Exchange server from the Available Exchange Servers list.
For Exchange 2013, 2010, and 2007, you may select any server running the same Exchange version as the original. For Exchange 2003, only restores to the original server are supported.
7 If desired, run pre- or post- restore commands by selecting Show Advanced Execution Options. Specify the client-side commands to run by entering any system command or user script in the Client Pre-Restore Commands or Client Post-Restore Commands fields. For details, see About backup options.
8 Click Restore.
All database and transaction log files are restored directly to the original location.
9 Re-mount any databases you dismounted for the restore.