I have been trying to do a complete farm disaster recovery restore of a single sharepoint 2007 server with a seperate SQL 2005 backend. I keep running into error after error when it comes to restoring the data and I have not been able to find a detailed stepped description on how to recover an entire farm to a new sharepoint server with a new sql backend server that works for at least me.
Most of my questions and where documents seem to fall short is exactly what do you need to recreate and when on the new server. Which steps can I do after I restore and which do I need to do before you restore of the farm through the console. What databases will restore and which ones will not. Here is what I have done:
Have MOSS 2007 (currently not service packed but I can if it makes it easier or if it changes the process sicne I will apply the WSS and Sharepoint SPs) running on a standalone server with all the services running on the same box. It is connected to a SQL 2005 box. I have all three websites mysite, sspadmin, and portal running on port 80 using host headers. They are all running in their own application pool.
Installed sharepoint on a new server as a complete install with the database on a new SQL server. Can get into the console fine.
I have a full backup using the method described in the link below which basically runs "stsadm -o backup -directory -backupmethod full"
http://blogs.threewill.com/implementingsharepoint/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=2I have made sure that SQL service account and sharepoint has access to the backup files.
Run the restore from the operations page of sharepoint console. Choose the backup location and select to restore the entire farm. Choose new configuration and type in new SQL server name and new index server name as well as the passwords for all the accounts listed. Most databases seems to restore the new SQL server fine. It always fails on restoring the sharedservices. It fails on the website creation and content database restore (cannot attach database to web application) which make sense if it can not create the sspadmin website. This of course make the shared search index restore fail.
What I and I beleive other new sharepoint users need is an ordered step by step way to succesfully restore and entire farm for disaster recovery (or even to use to recover an individual website) incuding what needs to be recreated. I have seen some posts recommending to recreate sharedservices. If this is the case do I simply uncheck those from what will be restored and manaully recreate all the settings within? I have been unable to find this both here, MS, or the gazillions of blogs out there which mostly cater to expereinced sharepoint admins. Doesnt mean one is not out there, but I have not found it yet.
Thanks
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