Applies to: Exchange Server 2007 SP3, Exchange Server 2007 SP2, Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Exchange Server 2007
Topic Last Modified: 2009-05-19

You can restore a mailbox database to another server by creating a storage group and database with the same name as the storage group and database name of the Exchange Server server that the database came from.

Note:
Windows Server Backup in Windows Server 2008 no longer supports Exchange-aware backups or restores. Unlike earlier versions of Windows Backup, you cannot make or restore streaming backups of Exchange by using Windows Server Backup. Therefore, to back up and restore Exchange Server 2007 SP1 or Exchange 2007 RTM on Windows Server 2008, you must use an Exchange-aware application that supports the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) writer for Exchange 2007, such as Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager, a third-party Exchange-aware VSS-based application, or a third-party Exchange-aware application that uses the streaming backup APIs locally on the Exchange server to make a backup locally on the Exchange server. An application that uses a backup agent that runs locally on the Exchange server and streams the backup remotely to a backup application is considered a local backup.

However,Exchange 2007 SP2 includes a new plug-in that enables you to make Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS)-based backups of Exchange data using Windows Server Backup in Windows Server 2008. You can use Windows Server Backup to back up and restore your Exchange 2007 SP2 databases. A thorough understanding of what needs to be backed up, where to store backups, and how to restore backups is key to being an effective Exchange administrator. For more information about what needs to be backed up in Exchange 2007, see Using Windows Server Backup to Back Up and Restore Exchange Data.
Important:
Public folder databases often contain replicas of folders on other public folder stores. Restoring an older version of a public folder database to an alternative server can cause replica issues.

Before You Begin

To perform the following procedure, the account you use must be delegated the following:

  • Exchange Organization Administrator role

For more information about permissions, delegating roles, and the rights that are required to administer Exchange 2007, see Permission Considerations.

In addition, the following assumptions are made in this procedure:

  • Server1 had a database named "SG2\mailbox database 1".

  • You have a streaming backup of the SG2\mailbox database 1 database that you made by using Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Backup.

    Note:
    If you use a backup utility other than Backup, the sub-steps in Step 4 do not apply.
  • You want to restore this backup to Server2. The location that you are restoring to should have sufficient free disk space for the restore.

Procedure

To Restore a Mailbox Database Backup to a Different Server

  1. Create a storage group on Server2 called "SG2" by running the following Exchange Management Shell command:

    Copy Code 
    New-StorageGroup SG2 -Server Server2

  2. Create in storage group SG2 a database named "mailbox database 1" by running the following Exchange Management Shell command:

    Copy Code 
    New-MailboxDatabase -StorageGroup Server2\SG2 -Name "mailbox Database 1"

  3. Set the database "mailbox database 1" so that it can be overwritten by running the following Exchange Management Shell command:

    Copy Code 
    Set-MailboxDatabase "mailbox database 1" -AllowFileRestore $true

  4. Catalog the .bkf file and change the Restore files to setting to point to Server2 by performing the following steps:

    1. Open Backup, click the Advanced Mode link, and then click the Restore and Manage Media tab.

    2. Click Tools, and select Catalog a backup file. Select the backup file to be cataloged, and then click OK.

    3. Locate and then select the backup file under Backup Identification Label.

    4. Change the Restore files to location to Alternate location, and then set the Alternate location to the folder where the database will be on Server2.

    5. Click Start Restore to start the restore operation.

    6. In Confirm Restore, click Advanced to specify advanced restore options or click OK to start the restore.

  5. Mount the database on Server2 by running the following Exchange Management Shell command:

    Copy Code 
    mount-database "mailbox database 1"

  6. Remove the Do no mount this database at startup setting from the Exchange databases by running the following Exchange Management Shell command:

    Copy Code 
    Set-MailboxDatabase <restored_database> -MountAtStartUp $true

For More Information

For detailed steps to create a storage group, see How to Create a New Storage Group.

For more information about database portability, see Database Portability.

For complete details about Backup and how to troubleshoot it, see Backing up and restoring data in the Windows Server 2003 online Help.