Extract edb & stm from bkf backup file?

[zaccaz]

Hi there, want to do some testing on using ntbackup to backup/restore exch2003 information store.

On production server (exch2003sp1, w2k3sp1) successfully backup information store to a bkf file. I copied the bkf file to a test server (exch2003sp2, w2k3sp1) with a different domain name/server name/exch org. I used wizard mode to restore, after select the information store, i tried both "alternation location" or "single folder" but still failed with following message:

Restore Status
Operation: Restore
Backup of "PRODUCTION\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group",
Restored to "TEST\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group"
Backup set #1 on media #1
Backup description: "Set created 29/3/2007 at 11:06 AM"

Restore started on 22/3/2007 at 4:18 PM.
Unable to restore Exchange data to TEST\Microsoft Information Store\First
Storage Group,
check the application event log for more information
Restore completed on 22/3/2007 at 4:18 PM.
Directories: 0
Files: 0
Bytes: 0
Time: 1 second
----------------------

At this moment I only want to extract the edb & stm files from the bkf file to c:\restore on TEST server. What should I do?

Many thanks!

 

[Marcs41]

And what does the App eventlog say?

Marc
_{If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, expect random guesses or no replies at all.
Free Tip: The F1 Key does NOT destroy your PC!}

 

[zaccaz]

Hi Marc, it got a series of events with order as follows:

event id: 8018, source: ntbackup, type: information
description: begin operation

event id:8002, source: ntbackup, type: information
description: begin restore to 'TEST\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group' Verify: Off

event id 9635, source: MSexchangeIS, type: error
description: Failed to find a database to restore to from the Microsoft Active Directory. Storage Group specified on the backup media is 9afb4b77-c7ce-414f-9ac2-741a50c61be4.
Database specified on backup media is Site-1 Store, error is 0xc7fe1f42.

event id: 904, source: ESE BACKUP, type: error
description: Information Store (4864) Callback function call ErrESECBRestoreGetDestination ended with error 0xC7FE1F42 Database not found.

event ID: 8003, source: ntbackup, type: error
description: End Restore to 'TEST\Microsoft Information Store\First Storage Group' 'Failed'
Verify: Off
Consult the backup report for more detail.

event ID: 8019, Source: NTBackup, Type: Error
description: End Operation: Warnings or errors were encountered. Consult the backup report for more details.

Many thanks!

 

[Marcs41]

Failed to find a database to restore to from the Microsoft Active Directory

This is the reason, you cannot restore to an alternate location with NTbackup.

If you want to move data over to a testserver, you could use Exmerge, 2 step method, it will also let you create userid's and mailboxes.

Marc
_{If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, expect random guesses or no replies at all.
Free Tip: The F1 Key does NOT destroy your PC!}

 

[silentsam33]

Your test restore server can be in a different domain and have a different server name, but the Exchange Administrative group name must match. there are many KB articules from MS detailing the process. I do this on a weekly basis (I work for a government and have to do security restores). I have not tried it with NTbackup, we use Netbackup.

 

[zaccaz]

hi silentsam33, can you guide me through which KB? many thx!
i'm still stucked at the ntbackup.bkf file....

 

[BenChristian]

If you simply want to test that your backups are working correctly, you can restore to a recovery storage group on the production server. This is a very common procedure, particularly as a way to revover individual mailboxes that have been deleted past the deleted mailbox retention period:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824126

If you want to retore to a different server altogether, you need to to an alternate forest restore. You basically need to build a DC in a separate forest, then install Exchange with the exact same organization name, and the same administrative group. Method 3 in the following article explains how to do this:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823176

Ben Christian
MCSE, MCSA:Messaging

http://www.benchristian.com