Applies to: Exchange Server 2007 SP3, Exchange Server 2007 SP2, Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Exchange Server 2007
Topic Last Modified: 2008-01-16

This topic explains how to recover a clustered mailbox server in a Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 cluster continuous replication (CCR) environment or a single copy cluster (SCC). Clustered mailbox servers can be recovered by using Setup.com /RecoverCMS from a command prompt.

Note:
Splitting clustered mailbox servers from a single failover cluster into many failover clusters, or vice versa, is not supported and cannot be accomplished using Setup /RecoverCMS.
Important:
Setup /RecoverCMS cannot be used across operating systems. A clustered mailbox server that was originally running in a Windows Server 2003 failover cluster can be recovered only on a Windows Server 2003 failover cluster and a clustered mailbox server that was originally running in a Windows Server 2008 failover clustered can be recovered only on a Windows Server 2008 failover cluster.

Before You Begin

Before you can recover a clustered mailbox server, you should have a thorough understanding of how a cluster is built and operates. For more information about how to build a CCR environment, see Cluster Continuous Replication. For more information about how to build an SCC, see Single Copy Clusters.

Before you can recover a clustered mailbox server, you must first create a failover cluster that is running the same operating system as the original failover cluster that hosted the clustered mailbox server. For detailed information about how to create a failover cluster, see the appropriate topic from the following table.

Cluster Type Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008

Single Copy Cluster

Installing a Single Copy Cluster on Windows Server 2003

Installing a Single Copy Cluster on Windows Server 2008

Cluster Continuous Replication

Installing Cluster Continuous Replication on Windows Server 2003

Installing Cluster Continuous Replication on Windows Server 2008

Note:
Cluster node names, node IP addresses, the failover cluster name, and IP address, and failover cluster quorum type do not have to match the values used by the lost clustered mailbox server. Any clustered mailbox server dependencies on these variables will be handled by Setup.

If the lost clustered mailbox server had any storage groups that were enabled for standby continuous replication (SCR), you must first disable SCR for those storage groups before using Setup /RecoverCMS. If you do not disable SCR before running Setup /RecoverCMS, the Setup operation will fail. For detailed steps to disable SCR, see How to Disable Standby Continuous Replication for a Storage Group.

To recover a clustered mailbox server, the account you use must be delegated the Exchange Organization Administrator role. For more information about permissions, delegating roles, and the rights that are required to administer Exchange 2007, see Permission Considerations.

Procedure

To use RecoverCMS to recover a clustered mailbox server

  1. Install the passive clustered Mailbox role on the node on which you intend to recover the clustered mailbox server. For instructions on how to install the passive clustered mailbox role, see the appropriate topic from the table in the Before You Begin section above.

    Note:
    The Exchange 2007 binary files are not required on all nodes before proceeding to the next step.

  2. To recover the clustered mailbox server, change to the directory containing the Exchange installation files. Run the following command:

    Copy Code 
    Setup.com /recoverCMS /CMSName:<name> /CMSIPaddress:<ip>
    Important:
    Storage configuration should match that of the lost clustered mailbox server prior to running Setup.com.
    Note:
    After restoring a CCR environment, replication is suspended. Replication must be enabled before the CCR environment is fully operational. In addition, you may need to reseed the passive copy of one or more databases. For information about reseeding a passive copy, see How to Seed a Cluster Continuous Replication Copy.
    Note:
    After the clustered mailbox server has been recovered, the Microsoft Exchange System Attendant service will start and then stop. You must then manually bring the System Attendant resource online.

  3. Restore your databases if they are not already available on the storage system.

    Note:
    The expected behavior for this operation is that the databases will not be mounted at the end of recovery. The databases will stay dismounted throughout the move and failovers until you explicitly mount the databases.

  4. Install the passive clustered mailbox role on other passive nodes.