Help - major hardware failure with Exchange server

[bert113]

Hi, Just returned to school today to find the mail server with a failed array (RAID 1), backups have failed, I've tried booting an individual disk straight from the motherboard slots ignoring the raid controller but windows (server 2003) just blue screens on me.

 

My question is, can I retrieve any of the exchange data from the disks (I've put one of them into a drive carrier and I can read it so I can get to all the data) is there a way I can get the data from this drive onto another server (just by chance I have another new server ready to roll out)

 

Any ideas / help??

[mb2k01]

What version of Exchange were you running? Is it the only Exchange server in the domain?

[bert113]

Hi. it's Exchange 2003 and it's the only server in the domain, I can get to the MDBDATA folder (the new server is 2008 r2) - Thanks for your reply

[Dos_Box]

I've used this method before. Just keep calm and follow the steps: Recovering a Failed Exchange 2003 Server Using the Disaster Recovery Switch

[bert113]

This might sound a daft question...

 

Does this mean I copy the folder across to the new server

 

"Note: If you managed to take a copy of the Exchange databases and log files from the old server, now is the time to bring them back to their respective location(s) on the new server and have them mounted. Depending on the state of the stores, you may have to repair them before they can be mounted."

 

Thanks again

[Willott]

I would suggest copying across to the new server - as you don't have a backup of the data, working on the original would be a little too risky in my eyes.

[mb2k01]

Sorry for the delayed reply. Dos_Box beat me to it - those instructions are pretty accurate and similar to what I would have posted a link to.

I would definitely echo the 'stay calm' bit of his message too. If you panic and start second guessing your every move it makes the job a while lot worse!

[mb2k01]

Actually, I will add one more thing.

If you have a brand new server sitting there which is available, why not install Hyper-V on it (or enable the role if OS is installed). Virtualising Exchange gives you a lot more flexibility in future from a backup / migration point of view.

[Dos_Box]

This might sound a daft question...

 

Does this mean I copy the folder across to the new server

 

"Note: If you managed to take a copy of the Exchange databases and log files from the old server, now is the time to bring them back to their respective location(s) on the new server and have them mounted. Depending on the state of the stores, you may have to repair them before they can be mounted."

 

Thanks again

 

Yes. Copy the mailstore file and keep it safe on another server.Ttry and use a copy of that if you can when restoring. Keep it safe and don't mess with it. You can recover this, it may take half a day or so, but if you have the mailstore in an uncorrupted state that you can recover it fully, all being well.

Edited January 4, 2011 by Dos_Box

[bert113]

A huge thank you to all of you who contributed yesterday, I managed to get the data restored 10.30pm last night all e-mail boxes are restored - just one slight glitch, when some accounts try to forward an e-mail from outlook web they just see a box with a red cross in the corner in place of the content - any ideas?

 

btw.... I kept very calm....well most of the time ;-)

[bert113]

I think I've found the answer, it seems to be effecting only users running Windows 7 - the following article explains the problem (for reference)

 

Download details: Update for Exchange 2003 (KB 911829)

 

Thanks agaiin - for all your help