XADM: How to Set Up a Disaster Recovery Server for Dir.edb

ID: Q177635

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5

SUMMARY

You may need to set up a Microsoft Exchange Server computer to recover information from the Exchange directory service contained in the Dir.edb file.


MORE INFORMATION

The Dir.edb file is Windows NT machine name specific and thus it can only be restored to a server with the same computer name.

NOTE: The following steps will allow you to construct a server offline. The resulting server will not be usable in your production Exchange environment.

Steps to build a Dir.edb recovery server

  1. In the production domain where the Exchange service account resides, install a computer as a backup domain controller (BDC) with the same version of Microsoft Windows NT Server and service pack level as the production Exchange Server computer.


  2. Make sure that the recovery server computer has enough free disk space and any other devices that are necessary, such as a tape drive or CD-ROM drive. Take this computer offline by isolating it from the production network on a hub.


  3. Promote this server to a primary domain controller (PDC) and reboot the computer.


  4. In Server Manager for Domains, add a BDC with the same Windows NT computer name as the Exchange Server computer, and rename the recovery server to the original Exchange Server computer name. (Verify that you are not on the production network first.)

    For more information, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

    Q150298 Renaming a Windows NT PDC or BDC


  5. Reboot the server. Now the recovery server is running the same version of Windows NT Server as the production Exchange Server computer.


  6. Install Microsoft Exchange Server as a new site, but use the same organization and site name as the production Exchange environment. Make sure to select the same service account as the production domain to use for the Exchange services.


  7. Update to the same service pack level as the production Exchange Server computer.


  8. Restore from backup the previous Microsoft Exchange directory store and/or the Microsoft Exchange information store.


Keywords : XADM
Version : WINDOWS:4.0,5.0,5.5
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: March 16, 1999
© 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.