Retrieve emails/ mailbox from tapes. Please help

[vbsaust]

Hi All,

Can I retrieve emails/ or mailbox straight from the tapes without DC or Exchange servers? since my company has lost everything except tapes, and my manager got some important emails that he want to retrieve.
Any help/ idea would be much appreciated.

Regards

[Colin_Weaver]

Assuming you are using one of the versions of Backup Exec that uses GRT and had GRT enabled on your backup job then you might be able to duplicate the backup set to disk - which will give you offline copies of the Exchange database files (inside the IMG folder) You then might be able to speak to Microsoft or Ontrack (Data Recovery specialists) to help you get at the data without using an Exchange Server.

But Backup Exec itself would expect to restore to an AD environment with Exchange services running in Disaster Recovery Mode) to do this kind of restore.

So really you need to restore a Domain controller, then build an Exchange server with the same name in the AD using the disaster recovery option
Then restore Exchange into the server.

Any further advice is likely to need the version of Exchange, the version of Backup Exec, the version(s) of the operating system and details of whether or not GRT was actually enabled.

Also this is bordering on the sort of issue that might mean you are better off using a full support case with Symantec instead of trying to work on a forum.

[vbsaust]

Thank you for your response.

Yes it is BE 12.5 itself, DC on 2003 server Standard, Exchange 07 on 2003 server standard.

I think it is a serious problem here. It would cost "a hand or leg" if he wants to retrieve his emails.

In regards to restore a DC, is it possible restore on different hard drive?

Again thank you very much

[Colin_Weaver · Accepted solution]

The best recommendation I can make at this point is:
ON EVERY BACKUP TAPE THAT YOU MIGHT NEED, SLIDE THE WRITE PROTECTION TAB ACROSS SO THAT YOU CANNOT ACCIDENTALLY OVERWRITE ANY OF THE CRITICAL DATA.
This comment applies to tapes for the Domain Controller and the Exchange Server

You haven't said where Backup Exec would be installed in this scenario - but basic steps would be
1) Install Windows 2003  on the replacement hardware (for the DC) with the same servername (but as a workgroup) and make sure the same Servcie Pack Level of the operating System is applied (and that a similar disk/volume partition scheme is created)
2) Assuming that the tape drive is attached to the DC  - install Backup Exec, BUT customize the installation folder so that it does not use the default location.
3) Patch backup Exec to the latest SP
4) Inventory and Catalog your tape(s)
5) Restore the drives and system state of the DC (this kind of assumes that the replacement hardware is a resonably close match for whatever failed - does not have to be exact in the case of the harddisk etc
6) reboot the server - which should come up as a DC and sort out any issues with hardware detection (network card configs etc) and services starting
7) On the replacement hardware for your Exchange Server install and patch Windows (with the same servername) and add it into the domain
8) Install Exchange in Disaster Recovery Mode (and possibly apply any required updates to Exchange)
9) Restore the Exchange databases to the server.

[vbsaust]

Thank you so much for your response and help.

I will be doing soon, after I find (used) servers that might be close to the old server as much as possible.

I will let you know how we go.

Best Regards

By the way, Merry X-mas and Happy New Year to you and your family