Performing Exchange Server Granular Level Recovery by using the EMC Avamar 7.1 Plug-in for Exchange VSS with Ontrack PowerControls Technical Note 302-001-437 REV 01 December, 2014 This technical note describes how to use the EMC Avamar Plug-in for Exchange VSS and Kroll Ontrack PowerControls to recover Public folder mailboxes and items from Public folders. You can also use the methods described in this note for standard mailbox recoveries. This technical note includes the following topics: Revision history... 2 Purpose... 2 Audience... 2 Overview...3 Resource requirements... 5 PowerControls prerequisites... 5 Restoring Exchange database files with Avamar... 6 Performing a GLR of Exchange Server database files...7
Revision history The following table presents the revision history of this document. Revision Date Description 01 December 18, 2014 First release of this document. Purpose Audience You must use third-party recovery tools to perform granular level recovery (GLR) of Exchange Public folders from data that you restore from the EMC Avamar Plug-in for Exchange VSS. This technical note describes how to recover Public folders, mailboxes, and items by using the following software and tools: Avamar Plug-in for Exchange VSS version 7.0 or later, used to recover Exchange Server mailbox database (.edb) files from an existing backup Kroll Ontrack PowerControls or other third-party recovery tools, used to browse, select, and restore from the database backup Ontrack PowerControls is not included in the Avamar Plug-in for Exchange VSS installation package. You must purchase the software separately. Ontrack PowerControls is available for resale through the EMC Technology Connect Select Program. You can order the software through the EMC ordering system. The Avamar ordering flow on Direct Express and Channel Express provides the option of selecting PowerControls. Details are available at http:// support.emc.com. The EMC Avamar Compatibility and Interoperability Matrix, available on EMC Online Support, provides an updated list of supported third-party recovery tools. The information in this document is primarily intended for the following audience: System administrators who are responsible for installing software and maintaining servers and clients on a network Microsoft Exchange Administrators who are responsible for backing up and maintaining Microsoft Exchange servers Persons using this document should have practical experience with the following software: Operating system shell commands on the Exchange platform, which require Root permission The specific version of Microsoft Exchange currently deployed at the site Avamar Plug-in for Exchange VSS PowerControls for Exchange 2 Performing Exchange Server Granular Level Recovery by using the EMC Avamar 7.1 Plug-in for Exchange VSS with Ontrack PowerControls Technical Note
Overview The Avamar Plug-in for Exchange VSS provides backup and recovery for Exchange servers, from stand-alone systems to clusters and database availability groups (DAGs). The plug-in uses Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) technology to perform backups. VSS is a framework that enables the performance of volume backups while applications on a system continue to write to the volumes. When you perform a backup with the Avamar Plug-in for Exchange VSS, you can back up the entire Exchange Information Store, specific databases in Exchange Server 2013 or 2010, or specific storage groups in Exchange Server 2007. You cannot back up individual mailboxes, folders, or messages with the Exchange VSS plug-in. You also cannot back up a recovery database (RDB) or recovery storage group (RSG). Before you install the Avamar Plug-in for Exchange VSS, you must install the Avamar Client for Windows. When you install the Avamar Client for Windows, the installation includes the Avamar Plug-in for Windows File System and the Avamar agent. You can use the Windows File System plug-in to back up operating system and Exchange Server binary files, which are required for disaster recovery. In this note, a database backup is restored to a file by using the Avamar Plug-in for Exchange VSS, and then a third-party product, Ontrack PowerControls, is used to select folders and items for GLR. PowerControls for Exchange Exchange configuration PowerControls for Exchange is used to extract Exchange mailbox database files. With PowerControls, you can select, extract, and recover individual items, mailbox components (such as Inbox, Calendar, Tasks, and Notes), or entire mailboxes directly to user mailboxes on the production Exchange server. You can use PowerControls to recover Exchange items when PowerControls is running on either an Exchange server or a Windows server that is not an Exchange server. PowerControls running on an Exchange server When PowerControls is installed on a node in the DAG, you can use PowerControls to recover Exchange Server items on any DAG node where you performed a backup. The Avamar Client for Windows and the Avamar Plug-in for Exchange VSS are also installed on each node in the DAG. Overview 3
Figure 1 PowerControls running on an Exchange server PowerControls running on a Windows server that is not an Exchange server You can perform GLR with PowerControls on a Windows server that is not an Exchange server. The Avamar Client for Windows and the Avamar Plug-in for Exchange VSS are also installed on the server, and Outlook 2013 or 2010 must be installed and configured with one or more user mailboxes that have sent and received at least one message. Figure 2 PowerControls running on a Windows server that is not an Exchange server 4 Performing Exchange Server Granular Level Recovery by using the EMC Avamar 7.1 Plug-in for Exchange VSS with Ontrack PowerControls Technical Note
Resource requirements GLR makes additional demands on software, hardware, and network resources. Ensure that your environment meets all of the system, software, hardware, and third-party tool requirements. Table 1 GLR resource requirements Resource System Avamar GLR PowerControls for Exchange Requirements The EMC Avamar Compatibility and Interoperability Matrix on EMC Online Support at https://support.emc.com describes the client compatibility requirements. The requirements include the supported operating systems, application versions, and high-availability configurations. The Installation chapter in the EMC Avamar for Exchange VSS User Guide describes Avamar configuration, hardware, software, and high-availability configuration requirements. The Installation chapter in the EMC Avamar for Exchange VSS User Guide describes proxy server, system, and backup requirements for GLR. The Kroll website at http://www.krollontrack.com/resources/systemrequirements/ describes the Ontrack PowerControls 7.0 system requirements. Note The steps in this technical note work with Avamar Plug-in for Exchange VSS 7.0 or later. The Avamar Client for Windows and the Exchange VSS plug-in that you install on the host must have the same version number. PowerControls prerequisites Verify that the configuration meets the following prerequisites to use PowerControls to perform a GLR of Exchange items: PowerControls is properly installed. You can install PowerControls on an Exchange server or on a regular Windows server. If you installed PowerControls on an Exchange server, the MAPI/CDO software is properly uninstalled. Outlook and MAPI/CDO software cannot be installed on the same machine. Outlook 2013 or 2010 software is installed properly, and the user mailboxes are connected in Outlook. The PowerControls license is valid. Refer to the PowerControls documentation for details. Note Only 32-bit versions of Microsoft Outlook 2013 and 2010 are supported. For complete Ontrack PowerControls 7.0 system requirements, review the Kroll website at http:// www.krollontrack.com/resources/system-requirements/. Resource requirements 5
Restoring Exchange database files with Avamar Use Avamar Administrator to restore Exchange databases from an Avamar backup to a file. Procedure 1. In Avamar Administrator, click the Backup & Restore launcher button. The Backup, Restore and Manage window appears. 2. Find the backup to restore. The EMC Avamar for Exchange VSS User Guide provides detailed steps on how to find a backup for a specific database or storage group. When you select the backup to restore, the backup appears in the Backups table. 3. Select Exchange Information Store in the lower left pane, and then select the checkbox next to the database or storage group to restore in the lower right pane. 4. Select Actions > Restore Now. The Restore Options dialog box appears. 5. Specify the target client for the restore: To restore to the PowerControls machine, either type the name of that server or click Browse to browse to the server (Recommended). Note If you do not restore to the PowerControls machine, then after the restore you will need to copy the restored files from the target client to the PowerControls machine. To restore to a file system location on the original server, leave the default selection of the original server in the Restore Destination Client box. To restore to a file system location on a different server, either type the name of the server or click Browse to browse to the server. 6. Ensure that Windows Exchange VSS appears in the Restore Plug-in list. 7. From the Avamar encryption method list, select the encryption method for data transfer from the Avamar server to the client during the restore. The encryption technology and bit strength for a client/server connection depend on several factors, including the client operating system and Avamar server version. The EMC Avamar Product Security Guide provides additional information. 8. Select Restore everything to a different location. 9. Click Set Destination. The Set Destination dialog box appears. 10.Specify the file system location for the restored files. This location will be used as the source location for PowerControls. a. Click Browse. The Browse for File, Folder, or Directory dialog box appears. b. Expand the Windows File System item in the left pane, and browse the file system. c. In the right pane, select the checkbox next to the target folder for the restored files. 6 Performing Exchange Server Granular Level Recovery by using the EMC Avamar 7.1 Plug-in for Exchange VSS with Ontrack PowerControls Technical Note
d. Click OK. 11.Click OK on the Set Destination dialog box. 12.Click More Options. The Restore Command Line Options dialog box appears. 13.In Log Options, select Do not replay the transaction logs checkbox. If you select this option, in the Move logs path specify the path to the PowerControls machine. 14.If you did not configure the AvamarBackupUser account, then specify the Username and Password for an Exchange administrator account that has permissions to perform the restore. 15.Disregard the remaining options in the Restore Command Line Options dialog box. These options do not apply when you restore to a file. 16.Click OK on the Restore Command Line Options dialog box. 17.Click OK on the Restore Options dialog box. The Restore Request dialog box indicates that the restore started. 18.Click Close. Performing a GLR of Exchange Server database files To perform the GLR the recovered database files must be on the PowerControls machine, or the PowerControls machine mapped to their network location. If you restored the databases directly to the PowerControls machine in Restoring Exchange database files with Avamar on page 6, proceed to the appropriate Exchange server GLR procedure: Performing GLR for Exchange Server 2013 on page 7 Performing GLR for Exchange Server 2007 or 2010 on page 8 If you restored to a different location than the PowerControls machine in Restoring Exchange database files with Avamar on page 6, complete one of the following steps: Copy all of the restored files to a location on the PowerControls machine. On the PowerControls machine, map a network drive to the file location the files were restored to. Provide this location as the source for PowerControls in Performing GLR for Exchange Server 2013 on page 7 or Performing GLR for Exchange Server 2007 or 2010 on page 8. Performing GLR for Exchange Server 2013 Use Ontrack PowerControls to browse database files that you restored from Avamar, select the mailbox folders or items to recover, and then copy them to the target folder. After the copy process completes, open the target user mailbox to verify that the recovered items can be opened. Procedure 1. Verify that the.edb and log files were restored to separate folders in the path that you specified. 2. Log in to the machine where PowerControls is installed. Performing a GLR of Exchange Server database files 7
3. Open the PowerControls GUI. 4. From the Edit menu, select Preferences. 5. In the Preferences dialog box, select the Target Options tab. 6. Select the following options: Use Autodiscover to detect Microsoft Exchange server connection settings Use Outlook Anywhere to connect to Microsoft Exchange server 7. Ensure that the following options are selected: Create new PST folders when PST message/folder limits are reached Allow mailbox creation during copy 8. From the File menu, select User Wizard. 9. Click Next. 10.In the Source Path Selection dialog box, specify the source paths for the database and log files: a. In the Source File field, browse to the folder that contains the.edb files. b. In the Log File Path field, browse to the folder that contains the log files. 11.Click Next. 12.In the Target Type & Path Selection dialog box, specify options for the target for the recovered files: a. Select Connect to Microsoft Exchange Server (Single Mailbox). b. In the E-mail Address field, type the email address of the target user mailbox for the recovered files, such as administrator@domain.com. c. In the Server Name field, type the client access server name, such as E2013@tigerdc.com. d. Verify that the following options are selected: Connect to Public Folders Connect using Autodiscover 13.Click Next. 14.When the processes complete, click Finish. 15.To perform the item level recovery, right-click items in the Source area and then click Copy. 16.Select the Target user mailbox, right-click the Target folder, and click Paste. 17.When the copy processes complete, click Close. 18.Verify that you can browse the recovered mailbox items: a. In the PowerControls GUI, click the target user mailbox and then click the target folder to view the recovered mailbox items. b. Open the target user mailbox and verify that you can open the recovered items. Performing GLR for Exchange Server 2007 or 2010 Use Ontrack PowerControls to browse database files that you restored from Avamar, select the mailbox folders or items to recover, and then copy them to the target folder. 8 Performing Exchange Server Granular Level Recovery by using the EMC Avamar 7.1 Plug-in for Exchange VSS with Ontrack PowerControls Technical Note
After the copy process completes, open the target user mailbox to verify that the recovered items can be opened. Procedure 1. Verify that the.edb and log files were restored to separate folders in the path that you specified. 2. Log in to the machine where PowerControls is installed. 3. Open the PowerControls GUI. 4. From the File menu, select Open Source. 5. In the Select Source Files dialog box, specify the source paths for the database and log files: a. In the Source File field, browse to the folder that contains the.edb files. b. In the Log File Path field, browse to the folder that contains the log files. c. In the Temporary File Path field, browse to C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData \Local\Temp\2\PC. 6. Click OK. The PowerControls window displays the recovered Exchange files. 7. In the Sources area of the PowerControls GUI, expand the mailboxes and folders, and then select the items to recover. 8. From the File menu, select Open/Create Target > Open Exchange Target Server to open the target mailbox. 9. In the Data Wizard, specify options for the target for the recovered files: a. Select Connect to Microsoft Exchange Server (Single Mailbox). b. In the E-mail Address field, type the email address of the target user mailbox for the recovered files, such as administrator@domain.com. c. In the Server Name field, type the client access server name, such as E2013@tigerdc.com. d. Click Next. PowerControls displays the target user mailbox in the Target area. 10.To perform the item level recovery, right-click items in the Source area and click Copy. 11.Select the Target user mailbox, right-click the Target folder, and then click Paste. 12.When the copy process completes, click Close. 13.Verify that you can browse the recovered mailbox items: a. In the PowerControls GUI, click the target user mailbox and then click the target folder to view the recovered mailbox items. b. Open the target user mailbox and verify that you can open the recovered items. Performing GLR for Exchange Server 2007 or 2010 9
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