Forum Discussion

Sym-Patrick's avatar
Sym-Patrick
Level 3
12 years ago
Solved

recover data from newly attached storage

Hi

I have two Windows Servers with Backup Exec 2012 SP3 (MS Hyper-V VMs) installed, the first one is the productive Server, while the second one will be started only when the first Server is down.

The backups are stored to harddisk based storages and in the worst case, I’ll detach this storage to attach it to the second Backup Server before starting it.

In my test, Backup Exec on the second Server detects this newly attached storage with no user interaction, but since it’s database is empty, there is no data which I can restore.

Is there a way to restore data from a newly attached disk based storage with no database content?

Patrick

2012
Backup and Recovery
Backup Exec
Restore
Windows Server (2003-2008)
  • Siddhant_Saini's avatar
    Siddhant_Saini
    12 years ago

    Hello Patrick, 

    You will have to make Backup Exec aware that the hard drive has some previously written backups on it. 

    To do that, you'll have to create a Disk Storage on the drive(Backup Exec would detect that it has a Disk Storage already created on it and then all you need to do is to run an Inventory+Catalog on it). 

    Alternatively, you could copy the Data and Catalogs folder from the production server and then perform a migration of Backup Exec(Do it only when the Production server is down or stop the Backup Exec Services on the Production Server). Refer to http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH67296

8 Replies

  • Siddhant_Saini's avatar
    Siddhant_Saini
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    Hello Patrick, 

    You will have to make Backup Exec aware that the hard drive has some previously written backups on it. 

    To do that, you'll have to create a Disk Storage on the drive(Backup Exec would detect that it has a Disk Storage already created on it and then all you need to do is to run an Inventory+Catalog on it). 

    Alternatively, you could copy the Data and Catalogs folder from the production server and then perform a migration of Backup Exec(Do it only when the Production server is down or stop the Backup Exec Services on the Production Server). Refer to http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH67296

  • CraigV's avatar
    CraigV
    Moderator
    12 years ago

    ...so the question here is why do this manually by copying Data/Catalogs folders between 2 servers?

    Have you considered configuring BE as a cluster instead, meaning the inactive node will assume the active role if that server fails.

    Check below:

    http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO74445

    There is also a section in the BE 2012 Admin Guide dealing with this. All resources assigned to the cluster can be failed over between the 2 nodes...

    Thanks!

     

  • Siddhant_Saini's avatar
    Siddhant_Saini
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    I gave that answer cause of this statement by Patrick:  ...the first one is the productive Server, while the second one will be started only when the first Server is down.

  • Sym-Patrick's avatar
    Sym-Patrick
    Level 3
    12 years ago

    many thanks, yes the storage was already recognized by Backup Exec and according to your post I'll just need to run the inventory+Catalog.

  • Sym-Patrick's avatar
    Sym-Patrick
    Level 3
    12 years ago

    Clustering is not possible in this scenario, but would of course be a good solution in a different situation. Thanks for your input.

  • Sym-Patrick's avatar
    Sym-Patrick
    Level 3
    12 years ago

    Thanks, but my inbox does not contain your message.
    Where can I access your message?

  • CraigV's avatar
    CraigV
    Moderator
    12 years ago

    Sorry Patrick, not you...it was meant for sidd.

    Thanks!