Title: Exchange Server Recovery to Recovery Storage Group fails
Date: Sep 07
Product & Version: NetVault 7.4.5u4
Module & Version: Exchange Server Plugin 3.0.8 ONLY
OS Version: All
Application version: Exchange 2003
Description: Further information on a fault that currently prevents restores to Recovery Storage Groups
Symptoms: A database has been mounted in a Recovery Storage Group (RSG) and a NetVault Exchange Plugin Restore is supposed to redirect to it. It fails with an error "Unable to open C:\Program Files\...\Mailbox Store.stm. Make sure the service has been stopped before restoring.", with the path given being the original, production location of the database, not the path of the RSG.
There is currently a fault with Exchange Server Plugin version 3.0.8 only, where redirected restores still go back to the original location. The fault ID is MEG-72, and it will be addressed in the next maintenance release of the plugin.
Do NOT unmount the original database as the error message might lead you to do, as then the redirected .stm file will overwrite your original one and lead to an inconsistent database.
The problem lies with the restore logic, the backups themselves are fine and can be recovered, just not redirected at the moment. If restores to RSGs are not currently necessary, it is best to wait for the fixed release.
As a workaround, in case of an urgent restore, it is possible to recover the datafiles by setting up a second Exchange server in its own domain and restoring to it (as per chapter EX.3.8 of the Exchange Server plugin's User's Guide). This new Exchange server will need to have the same directory structure than the production server. The database files will be restored completely and they can then be copied into the Recovery Storage Group on the primary machine and renamed appropriately. Using the Exchange System Manager, the database can then be mounted cleanly.
SFDC solution number:
English version available ID 2878
Version française disponible ID
Deutsche Version verfügbar ID
Prepared by: Nils Krumrey
