Applies to: Exchange Server 2007 SP3, Exchange Server 2007 SP2, Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Exchange Server 2007
Topic Last Modified: 2007-08-21

This topic discusses the data that is specific to the Active Directory directory service and that is critical to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 server roles. When you are making a disaster recovery plan, you should understand the backup and restore methods available for this data.

The following sections are in this topic:

As part of your Exchange disaster recovery planning, you should understand the dependence that Exchange 2007 has on Active Directory. The relationship between Exchange 2007 and Active Directory has the following important implications for personnel and rights issues:

Servers running Exchange 2007 use Active Directory extensively for the following:

Where Exchange Stores Configuration Data

The following table outlines where Exchange stores configuration data. It also indicates the backup and restore methods that you should use for each type of data.

Locations used by Active Directory for configuration data

Critical data Location Backup method Restore method

Active Directory domain container

Active Directory

DC=<Domain>,DC=<Domain_Root>

System State backup of a domain controller

System State restore of a domain controller

Active Directory configuration container

Active Directory

CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=Services,CN=Configuration,DC=<Domain>,DC=<Domain_Root>

System State backup of a domain controller

System State restore of a domain controller

Active Directory schema container

Active Directory

CN=Schema,CN=Configuration,DC=<Domain>,DC=<Domain_Root>

System State backup of a domain controller

System State restore of a domain controller

How to Protect the Configuration Data

The best way to protect Active Directory is by making it as redundant as possible. You can achieve this goal by having multiple domain controllers and global catalog servers in multiple locations that frequently replicate directory information. To protect Active Directory at the server level, you need to make regular backups of your domain controllers and global catalog servers, including a System State backup of directory servers in your Exchange organization.

If you experience problems with the domain controllers in the Windows domain to which your Exchange server belongs, you must repair those domain controllers immediately. If these problems occur, you may experience minor complications with your servers running Exchange, or your servers may stop functioning altogether. You can help ensure the safety of your domain controllers and global catalog servers by implementing redundancy measures and by having a strategy for backing up Active Directory regularly.

For More Information

For more information about Active Directory backup, see Introduction to Administering Active Directory Backup and Restore.