SBS 2003 exchange database replacment/recovery
Hi,
I have one sbs 2003 server with exchange 2003 SP2 on it. One week ago one disk in RAID5 array failed and until then they have ESE eventID 474 errors in their log (priv1.edb read operation error -1018). The disk was removed, RAID array repaired, but the error remains. The users do not notice any data loss in their mailboxes.
The backup of exchange is not working. The last valid backup is from two weeks ago, so just restoring from backup is not enough.
I have thinking of one procedure to resolve the problem and I want to hear about your opinion.
Plan is next:
I want to stop information store and move priv1.edb and priv1.mdb to another location.
Then with starting information store service new empty database should be created automatically. The old database I want to mount to recovery storage group and using "recover mailbox data" i want to copy all data to new database. I want to try to repair old database only at the moment when I would not be able to follow the procedure.
I want to replace the database to be 101% sure that it is without any corruption.
Thank you for your answers.
I have one sbs 2003 server with exchange 2003 SP2 on it. One week ago one disk in RAID5 array failed and until then they have ESE eventID 474 errors in their log (priv1.edb read operation error -1018). The disk was removed, RAID array repaired, but the error remains. The users do not notice any data loss in their mailboxes.
The backup of exchange is not working. The last valid backup is from two weeks ago, so just restoring from backup is not enough.
I have thinking of one procedure to resolve the problem and I want to hear about your opinion.
Plan is next:
I want to stop information store and move priv1.edb and priv1.mdb to another location.
Then with starting information store service new empty database should be created automatically. The old database I want to mount to recovery storage group and using "recover mailbox data" i want to copy all data to new database. I want to try to repair old database only at the moment when I would not be able to follow the procedure.
I want to replace the database to be 101% sure that it is without any corruption.
Thank you for your answers.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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You go as per your above suggestion ,
--But only drawback is "You need to mount the Blank database
--When you mount the database your mailflow will start
--After reparing the actual database you need to mount to RSG and merge the mails
--Last do Dialtone to replace the database
--The above process is very complicated...from my point....
--I would suggest you to go for repaire with my procedure
--My procedure will take approx 4 hours of downtime and you dont have to swap any database
--Please take the backup before hard repaire
Please letme know if you have any further query's,Thanks
--But only drawback is "You need to mount the Blank database
--When you mount the database your mailflow will start
--After reparing the actual database you need to mount to RSG and merge the mails
--Last do Dialtone to replace the database
--The above process is very complicated...from my point....
--I would suggest you to go for repaire with my procedure
--My procedure will take approx 4 hours of downtime and you dont have to swap any database
--Please take the backup before hard repaire
Please letme know if you have any further query's,Thanks
ASKER
I'm afraid we do not understand each other completely.
What do you mean with "--Last do Dialtone to replace the database"
I intend to keep dial tone database for good.
(1. create new empty database, 2. mount old corrupted DB to RSG, 3. move all data to new empty database).
I will lose rules and views, but that is collateral damage. I think this option is still better than installing additional exchange server into organization, move all mailboxes to 2nd server. remove DB from 1st server and create a new DB. Move all mailboxes back to 1st server, uninstall 2nd server...
What do you mean with "--Last do Dialtone to replace the database"
I intend to keep dial tone database for good.
(1. create new empty database, 2. mount old corrupted DB to RSG, 3. move all data to new empty database).
I will lose rules and views, but that is collateral damage. I think this option is still better than installing additional exchange server into organization, move all mailboxes to 2nd server. remove DB from 1st server and create a new DB. Move all mailboxes back to 1st server, uninstall 2nd server...
Yes ,i do agree with your suggestion ,Please proceed.
Please letme know if you have any further query's,Thanks
Please letme know if you have any further query's,Thanks
ASKER
I have changed my mind and have taken your procedure, because:
- offline defragmentation creates new database file and moves all data to it.
- I would probably need to repair database before mailbox migration anyway
So far all good. If the costumer will notice any further problems I will continue with procedure mentioned in my question.
Thank you for your help!
- offline defragmentation creates new database file and moves all data to it.
- I would probably need to repair database before mailbox migration anyway
So far all good. If the costumer will notice any further problems I will continue with procedure mentioned in my question.
Thank you for your help!
Really appriciated to follow my procedure,Thanks for the points,Good Bye.
ASKER
I will check the file system.
The size of DB is 14 GB (50 mailboxes), but it will still require a considerable amount of downtime.
So you would prefer repairing database, if it is not to big. And also you are sure that my procedure will work.
Can you tell me the reason why do you prefer repairing instead of replacing the database?
Any drawbacks?
In replacing I see:
+ less downtime
+ be sure that DB is healthy
- more time needed