Hi. I have a question about performing disaster recovery of databases. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/high-availability/disaster-recovery/dial-tone-recovery?view=exchserver-2019 I restored the servers. I am currently restoring the database backups. The user needs to work at the moment. I don't understand further, please explain: For example: I have 30 bases. DB01..DB30 Should I create 30 TEMP bases? For example: TEMPDB01 TEMPDB02 And so on. Next I execute this? Get-Mailbox -Database DB01 | Set-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB01 Get-Mailbox -Database DB02 | Set-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB02 When I have restored the bases, I should also return the configuration to each base ? Get-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB01| Set-Mailbox -Database DB01 Get-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB02| Set-Mailbox -Database DB02 And after each of the TEMPDB bases should be put into Recovery mode and restored ? Just in the example it is done for one database and I don't understand how to do it for all databases. It seems to me that if I specify one TEMP database for all bases, I won't be able to restore the configuration afterwards If I'm not clear, can you show me an example of how the recovery plan is done for all bases and not just one ? As I understand it, the number of TEMP bases should be equal to the number of bases on the Exchange server, right ? Otherwise I won't be able to restore the configuration of each of the databases because everything will be in one.

Hi @ Андрей Михалевский , Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A platform! Based on your description, you are doing a dial tone recovery for an Exchange database. Let's break down the process step by step for clarity. Yes, you should create a temporary database for each original database. For example: TEMPDB01 for DB01 TEMPDB02 for DB02 And so on, up to TEMPDB30 for DB30 You need to redirect the mailboxes from each original database to the corresponding temporary database. Here are the commands for all 30 databases: Get-Mailbox -Database DB01 | Set-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB01 Get-Mailbox -Database DB02 | Set-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB02 ... Get-Mailbox -Database DB30 | Set-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB30 While the user is using the temporary database, you can restore the original database from the backup. After the original database is restored, you need to switch the mailboxes back to their original database. The commands are as follows: Get-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB01 | Set-Mailbox -Database DB01 Get-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB02 | Set-Mailbox -Database DB02 ... Get-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB30 | Set-Mailbox -Database DB30 After switching back to the mailbox, you can put the temporary databases into recovery mode and restore them if needed. Here is a more detailed example of the entire process: Create a temporary database: New-MailboxDatabase -Name TEMPDB01 -EdbFilePath "C:\TempDB01\TEMPDB01.edb" -LogFolderPath "C:\TempDB01\Logs" New-MailboxDatabase -Name TEMPDB02 -EdbFilePath "C:\TempDB02\TEMPDB02.edb" -LogFolderPath "C:\TempDB02\Logs" ... New-MailboxDatabase -Name TEMPDB30 -EdbFilePath "C:\TempDB30\TEMPDB30.edb" -LogFolderPath "C:\TempDB30\Logs" Redirect a mailbox: Get-Mailbox -Database DB01 | Set Mailbox - Database TEMPDB01 Get Mailbox -Database DB02 | Set Mailbox - Database TEMPDB02 ... Get Mailbox -Database DB30 | Set-Mailbox - Database TEMPDB30 Follow the backup restore procedure for each database. Switch mailboxes: Get-Mailbox - Database TEMPDB01 | Set-Mailbox - Database TEMPDB01 Get-Mailbox - Database TEMPDB02 | Set-Mailbox - Database DB02 ... Get-Mailbox - Database TEMPDB30 | Set-Mailbox -Database DB30 Put the temporary database into recovery mode: Set-MailboxDatabase -Identity TEMPDB01 -AllowFileRestore $true Set-MailboxDatabase -Identity TEMPDB02 -AllowFileRestore $true ... Set-MailboxDatabase -Identity TEMPDB30 -AllowFileRestore $true Notes: You will need an equal number of temporary databases to match the original databases to ensure proper recovery of the configuration. Follow these steps in order to avoid any configuration issues. Please feel free to contact me for any updates. And if this helps, don't forget to mark it as an answer. Best, Jake Zhang

Perform dial tone recovery

Accepted answer

Jake Zhang-MSFT 5,835 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-09-26T02:54:12.66+00:00
Hi @Андрей Михалевский,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A platform!

Based on your description, you are doing a dial tone recovery for an Exchange database. Let's break down the process step by step for clarity.

Yes, you should create a temporary database for each original database. For example:

TEMPDB01 for DB01

TEMPDB02 for DB02

And so on, up to TEMPDB30 for DB30

You need to redirect the mailboxes from each original database to the corresponding temporary database. Here are the commands for all 30 databases:

Get-Mailbox -Database DB01 | Set-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB01 Get-Mailbox -Database DB02 | Set-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB02 ... Get-Mailbox -Database DB30 | Set-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB30

While the user is using the temporary database, you can restore the original database from the backup.

After the original database is restored, you need to switch the mailboxes back to their original database. The commands are as follows:

Get-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB01 | Set-Mailbox -Database DB01 Get-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB02 | Set-Mailbox -Database DB02 ... Get-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB30 | Set-Mailbox -Database DB30

After switching back to the mailbox, you can put the temporary databases into recovery mode and restore them if needed.

Here is a more detailed example of the entire process:

Create a temporary database:

New-MailboxDatabase -Name TEMPDB01 -EdbFilePath "C:\TempDB01\TEMPDB01.edb" -LogFolderPath "C:\TempDB01\Logs" New-MailboxDatabase -Name TEMPDB02 -EdbFilePath "C:\TempDB02\TEMPDB02.edb" -LogFolderPath "C:\TempDB02\Logs" ... New-MailboxDatabase -Name TEMPDB30 -EdbFilePath "C:\TempDB30\TEMPDB30.edb" -LogFolderPath "C:\TempDB30\Logs"

Redirect a mailbox:

Get-Mailbox -Database DB01 | Set Mailbox - Database TEMPDB01 Get Mailbox -Database DB02 | Set Mailbox - Database TEMPDB02 ... Get Mailbox -Database DB30 | Set-Mailbox - Database TEMPDB30

Follow the backup restore procedure for each database.

Switch mailboxes:

Get-Mailbox - Database TEMPDB01 | Set-Mailbox - Database TEMPDB01 Get-Mailbox - Database TEMPDB02 | Set-Mailbox - Database DB02 ... Get-Mailbox - Database TEMPDB30 | Set-Mailbox -Database DB30

Put the temporary database into recovery mode:

Set-MailboxDatabase -Identity TEMPDB01 -AllowFileRestore $true Set-MailboxDatabase -Identity TEMPDB02 -AllowFileRestore $true ... Set-MailboxDatabase -Identity TEMPDB30 -AllowFileRestore $true

Notes:

You will need an equal number of temporary databases to match the original databases to ensure proper recovery of the configuration.

Follow these steps in order to avoid any configuration issues.

Please feel free to contact me for any updates. And if this helps, don't forget to mark it as an answer.

Best,

Jake Zhang
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Андрей Михалевский 3,201 Reputation points

2024-09-26T08:51:00.7666667+00:00

@jakezhang Thank you very much.

I just don't really understand the last step.

When I restore the database from backup and restore the configuration:

Get-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB30 | Set-Mailbox -Database DB30

At this point the users will get their old emails.

I need to restore the delta of emails from database TEMPDB30.

Am I understanding correctly that I should execute:Set-MailboxDatabase -Identity TEMPDB30 -AllowFileRestore $true

And then do the recovery of the emails?

Foreach ($mailbox in Get-MailboxStatistics -Database TEMPDB30 ) {

New-MailboxRestoreRequest -SourceDatabase DB30 -SourceStoreMailbox $mailbox.DisplayName -TargetMailbox $mailbox.DisplayName

}

?

I've seen another algorithm where they remove the TEMPDB30 database:

Remove-MailboxDatabase TEMPDB30

After that it is connected in Recovery mode:

New-MailboxDatabase -Name TEMPDB30 -EdbFilePath “D:\TEMPDB30\TEMPDB30.edb” -LogFolderPath “D:\TEMPDB30” -Server SRV-MBX1 -Recovery

And then restore the delta of emails, which was before the original user base was restored.

Are you offering me a faster method?

Set-MailboxDatabase -Identity TEMPDB30 -AllowFileRestore $true

Will it do the same ?

Jake Zhang-MSFT 5,835 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-09-26T09:15:48.86+00:00

Hi @Андрей Михалевский,

Thanks for your response!

Your understanding is correct. Let's clarify the steps to recover email deltas after switching the mailbox back to its original database.

Switch the mailbox back to the original database:

Get-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB30 | Set-Mailbox -Database DB30 At this point, users will be able to access their old emails from the restored original database.

Enable file recovery on the temporary database:

Set-MailboxDatabase -Identity TEMPDB30 -AllowFileRestore $true

Use the New-MailboxRestoreRequest cmdlet to recover email deltas from the temporary database to the original database. The script is as follows:

foreach ($mailbox in Get-MailboxStatistics -Database TEMPDB30) { New-MailboxRestoreRequest -SourceDatabase TEMPDB30 -SourceStoreMailbox $mailbox.DisplayName -TargetMailbox $mailbox.DisplayName }

The alternative you mentioned involves deleting the temporary database and then reattaching it in recovery mode. This approach is more traditional, but can be more time consuming. Here is a quick overview:

Remove the temp database:

Remove-MailboxDatabase TEMPDB30

Reattach the temp database in recovery mode:

New-MailboxDatabase -Name TEMPDB30 -EdbFilePath "D:\TEMPDB30\TEMPDB30.edb" -LogFolderPath "D:\TEMPDB30" -Server SRV-MBX1 -Recovery

Use the New-MailboxRestoreRequest cmdlet as before:

foreach ($mailbox in Get-MailboxStatistics -Database TEMPDB30) { New-MailboxRestoreRequest -SourceDatabase TEMPDB30 -SourceStoreMailbox $mailbox.DisplayName -TargetMailbox $mailbox.DisplayName }

Use Set-MailboxDatabase -Identity TEMPDB30 -AllowFileRestore $true Typically faster because it avoids the need to drop and recreate the database in recovery mode. Dropping and reattaching the database in recovery mode is more traditional and may be preferred in some cases, but is more time consuming.

Both methods achieve the same result, i.e. recovering deltas of emails. The choice depends on your specific requirements and preferences.

Best,

Jake Zhang

Андрей Михалевский 3,201 Reputation points

2024-09-26T09:37:59.06+00:00

@jakezhang

Thank you very much for such a detailed explanation. Now I understand the whole algorithm.

I didn't know about the method with the -AllowFileRestore key

I don't see it in the official documentation. Can you please tell me where is the official source ? Does this work for public folders ?

Get Mailbox -Database DB30 | Set-Mailbox - Database TEMPDB30

Андрей Михалевский 3,201 Reputation points

2024-09-26T09:43:28.01+00:00

Does this work for public folders ?

Get Mailbox -Database DB30 | Set-Mailbox - Database TEMPDB30

Андрей Михалевский 3,201 Reputation points

2024-09-26T09:44:42.0666667+00:00

Why is this site doing so poorly ? It freezes all the time. Takes a long time to update. Errors when creating topics, sending messages((((

Jake Zhang-MSFT 5,835 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-09-27T05:13:44.93+00:00

Hi @Андрей Михалевский,

Thanks for your response!

The -AllowFileRestore parameter is used to allow the restore process to overwrite the mailbox database. You can refer to the official Microsoft documentation here：https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/exchange/set-mailboxdatabase?view=exchange-ps.

The Get-Mailbox -Database DB30 | Set-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB30 commands are specifically for user mailboxes. Public folders are managed differently. To move public folders, you need to use the New-PublicFolderMoveRequest cmdlet. Here is an example:

New-PublicFolderMoveRequest -Folders \PublicFolder1 -TargetDatabase TEMPDB30

I deeply sympathize with the performance issues you are experiencing, such as freezes, slow updates, and errors. We can only hope that Microsoft will update and improve this product in the future. Thank you for your understanding!

Best,

Jake Zhang

Андрей Михалевский 3,201 Reputation points

2024-09-27T07:26:07.2266667+00:00

Thank you very much. You've been very helpful!

Андрей Михалевский 3,201 Reputation points

2024-09-27T13:42:29.84+00:00

@Jake Zhang-MSFT final question

When I applied dial tone, the user sees the message when they start Outlook:

Pardon my Russian. I'll translate:

Временный почтовый ящик - Temporary mailbox

Прежние данные - Previous data

Отмена - Cancel

I have to choose-- temporary mailbox

The user gets a new clean mailbox with no emails as it should be in the new TEMP base. To be able to use the service until I restore the database from backup.

I restored the base and gave it back its configuration.

The Mictosoft Exchange server administrator has made the changes, so you need to exit the Outlook program and restart it.

I restart Outlook and see the same thing as in the first picture. I select the option - Temporary mailbox

The user received their recovered data. Mail's working, everything's fine.

But every time Outlook is restarted, the client always sees a question box(first picture).

Is there something else I have to configure on the server side?

Also I have not deleted the TEMP base at this point. Could it be because of this? What should I do ?

I don't really understand why I have to select Outlook - Temporary Mailbox every time I start Outlook - Temporary Mailbox if I have reverted the original database and moved the configuration from the temporary database to the original database (Get Mailbox -Database TEMPDB30| Set-Mailbox - Database DB30).

I have 2000 users and this scenario is not very convenient. I thought it was supposed to remember the configuration choice after the first selection.

Андрей Михалевский 3,201 Reputation points

2024-09-28T15:56:09.23+00:00

Could you please advise me, I have also done dial tone for archive bases by specifying the -archive key in get-mailbox.

How can I write a script that restores the archives as well?

foreach ($mailbox in Get-MailboxStatistics -Database TEMPDB30) { New-MailboxRestoreRequest -SourceDatabase TEMPDB30 -SourceStoreMailbox $mailbox.DisplayName -TargetMailbox $mailbox.DisplayName }

I don't understand how to complete this code. Get-MailboxStatistics does not have the -archive

In New-MailboxRestoreRequest if I specify -TargetIsArchive, all mail will be in the Archive.

I have tried checking the Archive keyword in the DisplayName property, but the restore doesn't work. How to correct?

Jake Zhang-MSFT 5,835 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-09-30T05:38:45.48+00:00

Hi @Андрей Михалевский,

Outlook repeatedly prompts the user to choose between the temporary mailbox and the previous data, the problem you are experiencing may be due to the presence of the temporary database. Here are some steps to resolve this issue:

Make sure all mailboxes have been moved back to their original database.

Get-Mailbox -Database TEMPDB30 | Set-Mailbox -Database DB30

Once all mailboxes have been moved back, you can safely delete the temporary database.

Remove-MailboxDatabase TEMPDB30

After deleting the temporary database, users should no longer see the prompt when they restart Outlook.

To recover archive mailboxes, you need to handle them separately. Here is how you can modify the script to include archive mailboxes:

Use Get-Mailbox with the -Archive parameter to get the archive mailboxes.

$archiveMailboxes = Get-Mailbox -Archive

Loop through each archive mailbox and create a recovery request.

foreach ($mailbox in $archiveMailboxes) { $archiveStats = Get-MailboxStatistics -Archive -Identity $mailbox.Identity foreach ($archive in $archiveStats) { New-MailboxRestoreRequest -SourceDatabase TEMPDB30 -SourceStoreMailbox $archive.DisplayName -TargetMailbox $mailbox.DisplayName -TargetIsArchive $true } }

Here is a complete example script that handles both regular and archive mailboxes:

# Restore regular mailboxes foreach ($mailbox in Get-MailboxStatistics -Database TEMPDB30) { New-MailboxRestoreRequest -SourceDatabase TEMPDB30 -SourceStoreMailbox $mailbox.DisplayName -TargetMailbox $mailbox.DisplayName } # Restore archive mailboxes $archiveMailboxes = Get-Mailbox -Archive foreach ($mailbox in $archiveMailboxes) { $archiveStats = Get-MailboxStatistics -Archive -Identity $mailbox.Identity foreach ($archive in $archiveStats) { New-MailboxRestoreRequest -SourceDatabase TEMPDB30 -SourceStoreMailbox $archive.DisplayName -TargetMailbox $mailbox.DisplayName -TargetIsArchive $true } }

Notes:

1.Ensure all mailboxes are moved back to their original databases and remove the temporary database.

2.Use Get-Mailbox -Archive to get archive mailboxes and create restore requests for them.

Best,

Jake Zhang

Андрей Михалевский 3,201 Reputation points

2024-09-30T09:37:08.44+00:00

@jakezhang Deleting the TEMP bases did not help. The client still sees the request to select a profile. It will be very sad if I have to recreate 2000 profiles.

Jake Zhang-MSFT 5,835 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-10-02T08:17:02.9233333+00:00

Hi @Андрей Михалевский,

Unfortunately, deleting the TEMP database does not resolve the issue. You can try the following steps to resolve the Outlook prompt issue.

Make sure Outlook is set to always use the default profile. You can do this through the Mail app in Control Panel:

Open Control Panel.

Search for "Mail" and open it.

Click "Show Profiles".

Select "Always use this profile" and select the correct profile.

Sometimes, the Autodiscover cache can cause problems. You can clear it by deleting the Autodiscover XML file:

Navigate to %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook.

Delete the Autodiscover.xml file.

Best,

Jake Zhang
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