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When analyzing an Exchange recovery process, consider multiple alternatives beyond restoring an entire server or running the built-in Exchange utilities.
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Because Exchange Server 2003 uses Active Directory for the user directory, Exchange administrators should know about Active Directory recovery.
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Having good documentation on the Exchange environment makes for an easier time in recovering from system failures.
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Preplanning with a failover site can prepare an organization for a server or site failure, to provide faster response in system failure recovery.
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Recovering from a server failure can be done several different ways; the option of restoring a server versus recovering a server needs to be analyzed before proceeding with a process.
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Exchange Server 2003 systems can be recovered using the setup /disasterrecovery command for Exchange setup, greatly simplifying the recovery process in Exchange.
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Doing an XCOPY on a database before performing any maintenance can provide a backup copy of the Exchange databases in case a database restore needs to be performed.
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Moving mailboxes from an old server with corrupt databases to a new server in the same site can keep the Exchange system operational while data is moved off a failing environment.
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Extracting mail from an old server using the ExMerge utility to a new server can extract good data and leave corrupt portions of information on the old system, without having to do a server database repair.
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Running the ISINTEG and ESEUTIL utilities on a regular basis for maintenance helps maintain the integrity of Exchange databases.
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Using the ISINTEG and ESEUTIL utilities on corrupt databases can cause the loss of data because the utilities attempt to repair the Exchange database at all costs.
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A recovery storage group can simplify the recovery of information from backup by allowing data to be restored to a production server, without having to rebuild a new temporary server in a lab before data restore can even begin.
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Active Directory recovery is an important task; the process of restoring and recovering a failed directory should be tested in a lab and should be familiar.