How to restore Exchange Server Stores from backup?

In my previous article entitled: “How to perform Backup of Exchange data?” I have already discussed the methods to take back up of Exchange database files.

In current article, I am going to describe the procedure to restore Exchange Server Stores from backup.

Below given is the procedure to restore Exchange Server Stores from backup:

For Exchange Server 2003, 2008, or 2010 on Windows Server 2003, Server 2008, SBS2003, or SBS2008:

•    First download your Exchange *.edb and *.log files
•    Once the exchange database files are downloaded, dismount the existing Exchange Server Store
•    And then mount the new Exchange Server Store.

For other versions of exchange and Windows server, follow the given steps:

In such case ntbackup utility can be used to restore your Exchange data.
•    First, download the dump of your Exchange Server Database that was generated with ntbackup (your *.bkf files)
•    And then follow a process to use ntbackup to restore your data.

Illustration of the above restore procedures is given below:

Exchange Server 2003 or 2008 or 2010 on Windows Server 2003/2008 (or later):

You can directly replace the production information store with the restored copy.

In this case the actual information store files were backed up themselves and can be restored directly. You can use recovery storage group if you want to restore only some selected mailboxes. Using   recovery storage group you can easily mount the data without affecting the production information store.

Follow the given steps to restore the Exchange information stores:

1.    Go to Backup Manager > Control Panel page > Manage or Restore Files. And open File Manager
2.    Select the files((*.edb, *.stm, *.log, *.chk)) to be restored
3.    Restore Data: Options screen will prompt you to select a location for restoring the selected exchange database files. You can choose any desired folder location on your local hard disk.( folder that is different from the folder containing your existing Exchange database files)
4.    Proceed further with the restore wizard
5.    Dismount the Exchange Mailbox Store(s) that are being  restored
6.    Copy your exchange database files (*.edb, *.stm, *.log, and *.chk files) to a desired location.
7.    Move the exchange database files to their original locations.
8.    Now, Mount the Exchange Mailbox Stores

Note: The above steps are only applied for Exchange Server 2003 or 2008 or 2010 on Windows Server 2003/2008 (or later).
 

Follow the given steps to perform restore for Older Versions of Exchange Server or Windows Server:

1.    Go to Backup Manager > Control Panel page > Manage or Restore Files and open File Manager
2.    Select the file to be restored that is dump of the Exchange Store or .bkf file (that was created using ntbackup
3.    The Restore Data: Options screen will prompt you to select a location for restoring the selected exchange database files. You can choose any desired folder location on your local hard disk.
4.    Continue the steps in the restore wizard
5.    Now restore the information using the bkf file/downloaded dump file e using ntbackup /Exchange backup respectively.

This is how you can perform a backup and restore operation for Exchange Server Stores.

Thus, the backup files prove to be very important in case of data loss. If you have lost your exchange data then you can easily recover it from backup. You can also use the backup files as a mean of archiving old data. If you require using that data, you can restore and access it.

But what if the Exchange backup files have got corrupt? You cannot access and use that data in such case.

In order to access the data from corrupt Exchange backup files, first you need to repair it then, restore the repaired files to Exchange. To perform recovery of Exchange backup files you need some “Exchange BKF Recovery” tool.

In my next article, I am going to discuss more about the Exchange backup corruption and its repair methods. Be in touch!

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What are the benefits of moving to MS Outlook from lotus notes?

As users are provided with the two amazing email applications; MS Outlook and Lotus Notes, results explain that the number of users who like MS Outlook is much high than those of who pick Lotus Notes. Yes, today, a good percentage of the whole business world prefers using Outlook, the application which is mainly devoted to emailing. The post explains some most important attributes of MS Outlook that benefit users over Lotus Notes.

Cost Effective



Lotus Notes is pricey when the subject of cost and maintenance is brought to mind. In order for one to use the Lotus Notes it is suitable to take into account that you have to buy the Lotus Notes application to host your mails, which is rather the reverse when it comes to Outlook that is available for free however you might be required to have already installed some small applications for an entire account.


Server

The MS Outlook is one of the most broadly used email clients in  corporate world which is being hosted by Microsoft, stands out as one of their hottest property on the market while Lotus Notes is primarily hosted by the IBM Lotus Domino as its main server. This can signify that since Microsoft products are being used extensively in the market, MS Outlook stands as the more effortlessly available of the two email applications.

Features, Interface, and User-friendliness


Both the email applications provide brilliant messaging interface along with some really nice features. Lotus Notes is packed with good database management, calendaring, contact organization, instant messaging features. Furthermore, upgrading cost is also less. Though, when it comes to evaluation, Outlook once more takes all the attention due to its superior offering to fulfill business requirements. In addition, it provides relatively enhanced GUI that does not compel a new user to get trained, contrasting Lotus Notes, which offers complex user interface and lacks some essential features.

Microsoft Outlook is not restricted to the pointed out characteristics; it is wrapped with numerous other brilliant features.

So, if you wish to experience the goodness of Outlook, migration is rather straightforward. But, a main point which you should know is Outlook data is stored in its data file, known as PST (Personal Storage Table) and Lotus Notes stores its data in NSF files. So, when you come to a decision to switch, you need to convert NSF to PST.

Unluckily, there is no inbuilt utility to carry out such conversion. So, you have to choose a third party NSF to PST conversionsoftware that will complete the task in little time. You can find the software over the Internet.

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