Topic Last Modified: 2013-02-17

This topic identifies the tools that you can use to back up and restore Lync Server 2013, the permissions that you need, and whether you can run commands remotely or locally. Specifically, this topic focuses on tools that are provided with Lync Server for backup and restoration.

Backups

To back up Lync Server, use the tools identified in the following table. All the commands that you need to back up Lync Server can be scripted and can be run remotely.

Tools for Backing Up Lync Server

To back up this: Use this tool or cmdlet:

Topology configuration data (Xds.mdf)

Export-CsConfiguration

Location information service (E9-1-1) data (Lis.mdf)

Export-CsLisConfiguration

Response Group configuration data (RgsConfig.mdf)

Export-CsRgsConfiguration

Persistent user data (Rtcxds.mdf database)

Conference IDs

Export-CsUserData

  • Archiving database (LcsLog.mdf)

  • Monitoring call detail record database (LcsCDR.mdf)

  • Monitoring QoE database (QoEMetrics.mdf)

SQL Server database tool, such as SQL Server Management Studio

Persistent Chat database (Mgc.mdf)

SQL Server backup procedures or Export-CsPersistentChatData. Export-CsPersistentChatData exports Persistent Chat data as a file.

All file stores: Lync Server file store, Archiving file store

Note:
Files named Meeting.Active should not be backed up. These files are in use and locked while a meeting takes place.

Standard file system management tool, such as Robocopy.

Restoration

To restore Lync Server, use the tools in the following table. All the commands that you need to restore Lync Server can be scripted. Some can be run remotely, but others need to be run locally, as specified in the following table.

Tools for Restoring Lync Server

To do this: Use this tool or cmdlet:

Build a new or clean computer

  • Windows operating system installation software

  • SQL Server installation software

  • Certificates Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in, if restoring certificates with an exportable private key

Restore file store data

Standard file system management tool, such as Robocopy

Recreate empty databases and set permissions for the following:

  • Central Management store

  • Back End Server

  • Monitoring database

  • Archiving database

Install-CsDatabase

Restore the Active Directory Domain Services pointer to the Central Management store

Note:
If you lose the service connection point at any time, you can rerun this cmdlet.

Set-CsConfigurationStoreLocation

Import the topology, policies, and configuration settings to the Central Management store (Xds.mdf)

Import-CsConfiguration

Publish and enable the topology

Topology Builder

-or-

Publish-CsTopology and Enable-CsTopology

Enable the last published topology

Enable-CsTopology

Reinstall Lync Server components

Lync Server Setup

Note:
Located in the Lync Server installation folder or media at \setup\amd64\Setup.exe.

Restore location information (E9-1-1) data (Lis.mdf)

Import-CsLisConfiguration

Restore persistent user data (Rtcxds.mdf)

Import-CsUserData

Restore Response Group configuration data (RgsConfig.mdf)

Import-CsRgsConfiguration

Note:
If the configuration is being restored in a newly deployed pool that has no Response Group data in the database, then you should use the –OverwriteOwner option. Use this option even if the data being restored is in a pool with the same fully qualified domain name (FQDN). Otherwise, the import will not succeed, due to the contact objects to the Response Groups already existing in Active Directory.

Restore the following databases:

  • Archiving database (LcsLog.mdf)

  • Monitoring databases: call detail record database (LcsCDR.mdf) and QoE database (QoEMetrics.mdf)

SQL Server database management tools

Persistent Chat database (Mgs.mdf)

SQL Server restore procedures or Import-CsPersistentChatData. You can use Import-CsPersistentChatData with a file created by Export-CsPersistentChatData, and the data will be imported into the Persistent Chat database.

Required Permissions

Users must be a member of the RTCUniversalServerAdmins group to perform all the commands described in this topic. Most backup and restore commands do not support role-based access control (RBAC). Two exceptions are the Persistent Chat cmdlets Export-CsPersistentChatData and Import-CsPersistentChatData, which must be run by a user who is a member of the CsPersistentChatAdministrator group. To run Lync Server Deployment Wizard, a user must also be a member of the Local Adminstrators group.