An Exchange protection plan backs up Microsoft Exchange databases and log files for each Microsoft Exchange Storage Group selected. After the plan runs, eligible logs are truncated. This page discusses the process of restoring and recovering Exchange databases.


The software protects Microsoft Exchange using the Microsoft Exchange Writer for VSS included with newer versions of Windows. When a Microsoft Exchange Storage Group is backed up by the software, the VSS Writer is invoked and the files that compose the databases, log files, and ancillary meta files are backed up in an open state (while the mailbox stores are mounted). Email transactions and new log files are deferred in memory while the existing files are backed up. Because databases are protected in an open, or victimized state, recovery steps are necessary before restored databases can be remounted in Exchange.


When restoring one or more Microsoft Exchange Storage Groups (for Exchange Server 2003 or Exchange Server 2007) or databases (for all newer versions of Exchange) from an Exchange protection plan, all files composing the Microsoft Exchange Storage Group or database are restored to an alternate location of your choosing. The software never restores the database files back to their original location, due to the potential of corrupting running mailbox databases. After restoring all files from your protection plan, you must run an Exchange recover command using the Microsoft utility ESEUtil.exe, included with Exchange, before the individual databases can be used again by Exchange. You may replace an existing damaged Exchange database, or simply recover data from a mailbox by mounting the database in an Exchange Recovery Storage Group (for Exchange Server 2003 or Exchange Server 2007) or recovery database (for all newer versions of Exchange).


The process of restoring a protection plan begins with finding the restore point for the plan you want to restore in the Archive Manager software. Refer to Finding a Plan's Archive Restore Point.


Select the restore point you want to restore and the Restore button in the lower-right portion of the screen becomes active. Click Restore and a Storage Group Restore dialog box appears. Choose a volume or directory with enough space to save all log files and all databases for the Microsoft Exchange Storage Group.


To use the restored database files with Exchange, they must be recovered and reattached to the Exchange Server. For information on recovering and attaching databases to an Exchange Server please refer to the following links:


  • Exchange 2003/2007


http://technet.microsoft.com/library/aa998848(EXCHG.80).aspx


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/824126


http://technet.microsoft.com/library/aa996168(EXCHG.65).aspx


  • Exchange 2010/2013


http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dd876954.aspx


http://technet.microsoft.com/library/ee332321.aspx


http://technet.microsoft.com/library/ee332351.aspx