NetVault Plug-in for Exchange 10.0.5 - User Guide

Clean installation of Exchange has been performed on the new target server: Dell recommends that you complete this step on a newly installed Exchange Server, rather than an existing one.

Target server established in a different network domain (ESE-based backups only): For this operation to work, the target machine for this operation must reside on a different network domain than where the original Exchange Server resides. If these two machines are set up on the same domain, NetVault Backup always attempts to recover the selected data to the original Exchange Server. VSS-based backups can be restored to target servers in the same network domain.

For ESE-based backups (only applies to Exchange 2007): Before attempting the restore of a specific Storage Group, the target machine must be set up to mirror that Storage Group’s structure (names and directory paths) as it appeared on the original machine. For example, if a Storage Group contains five individual mailbox databases and originally existed in the root of the C:\ partition, a Storage Group must be established on the target machine with the same name, it must contain five mailbox databases all named the same as the originals, and it must be located in the root of the C:\ partition.

For VSS-based backups (required for Exchange 2010 and later): The target Storage Group/Mailbox Database names, database names, database filenames, and the database file path or directory cannot match the original Storage Groups/Mailbox Databases; they must be different.

NetVault Backup and the Plug‑in for Exchange must be installed on both machines: For this operation to work, NetVault Backup and the plug-in must be installed on both the original Exchange Server and the machine set up as the new target.

Both machines must be added to the NetVault Backup Server as Clients: On the Manage Clients page of the NetVault Backup Server, ensure that both machines have been successfully added as NetVault Backup Clients. For details on adding Clients to the NetVault Backup Server, see the Dell NetVault Backup Administrator’s Guide.

Exchange Administrator User Name: By default, this field contains the administrator-level account that was used to back up the original target Exchange Server. You can change this value, but the account named must have the proper backup and restore permissions for the machine that is to serve as the target of the restore.

Password: Enter the password associated with the user name specified in the previous field.

Windows Domain: This field can be left blank, as it is not requirement for recovering to a different Exchange Server.

If you are restoring into a domain that might have existing user accounts, Dell recommends that you scan and clean the mailbox database. This step ensures that any previously disconnected mailboxes are updated appropriately. For complete instructions, see the relevant Microsoft Exchange 2007 documentation. Additionally, see Clean-MailboxDatabase at: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124076.aspx

Because the Exchange Server acting as the target for the restore was established on a different network domain, none of the user accounts from the original Exchange Server’s Active Directory exist in the new domain. Therefore, you must import all the user accounts from the original Exchange Server’s Active Directory to the new Exchange Server’s Active Directory. In Exchange 2007, you can perform this task by using the Exchange Management Shell scripts. For complete instructions, see the relevant Microsoft Exchange 2007 documentation. Additionally, see How to Generate Active Directory Accounts By Using the Mailbox Information in the Mailbox Database at: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb430758.aspx

Windows® Application Log: In this log, VSS Writers record detailed error messages that are not logged in the NetVault Backup logs. For more information, see Windows Application Log at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms157312.aspx.

Vssadmin and DiskShadow: You can use Vssadmin to list the VSS writers and providers, display their status, and ensure that the VSS Writers that the plug-in depends on are enabled and available. Vssadmin also indicates whether it has encountered any errors. DiskShadow, which is a newer utility, also provides information that might be useful. For more information, see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb491031.aspx and http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772172(v=WS.10).aspx.