Recipe11.7.Restoring a Database to a Different Machine in Exchange Server 2003

Recipe 11.7. Restoring a Database to a Different Machine in Exchange Server 2003

Problem

The database from your original Exchange Server 2003 server needs to be restored, but the original Exchange server hardware cannot be used for the restore.

Whenever possible, the original server that hosted the database should be used as the recovery point; this recipe should only be used as a last resort.

Solution

Using a graphical user interface

1. Ensure the old server is no longer present on the network.

2. Reset the old server's computer account in Active Directory by going to Start All Programs Microsoft Exchange Active Directory Users and Computers and browsing to the computer object, then right-clicking the computer object and selecting Reset Account from the drop-down list.

3. If Windows Server is already installed on the new server, rename the new server so it has the same computer name as the old server. If the new server does not yet have Windows 2003 installed, install Windows 2003 and, when prompted, give the new server the old server's name.

4. Ensure that all Windows 2003 Service Packs and hotfixes on the new server are identical to the Service Packs and hotfixes installed on the old server.

5. Log on to the replacement server using an account that has Exchange Full Administrator rights.

6. Verify that the SMTP, NNTP, ASP.NET, and World Wide Web components of IIS are installed on the new server (see Recipe 2.3).

7. Launch Exchange Server 2003 setup with the /disasterrecovery switch.

8. Follow the instructions in Recipe 11.6, beginning with step 5.

Discussion

Exchange Server 2003 recovery is very similar to that of Exchange 2000. The primary difference between Recipe 11.6 and this recipe is simply the installation prerequisites.

See Also

MS KB 822945 (How to Move Exchange 2003 to New Hardware and Keep the Same Server Name), and Exchange 2003 Disaster Recovery Operations Guide