Manually copy the exchange database .edb file?
Hi, SBS 2008, Exchange 2007. Our backup is failing (a story for another time). I need a backup of our exchange database ASAP and I need to wipe the disk it currently sits on. I thought I would be able to un-mount the database then copy and paste the database onto a different drive, but during the paste section it fails with Invalid MS DOS Function. I then tried to move it through the SBS console. I did this when I first got the server to move the database onto the large RAID5 array rather than the OS C: drive. However, this also fails. I even tried moving the database through EMC and it also fails. Basically, I want some way of backing this database up, then I can get going rebuilding my array :-( Please help.
September 14th, 2012 12:48pm

See if below helps http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/exchangesvradmin/thread/583f6388-787d-4d7d-a6a7-1e4b0daca721 Thanks
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September 14th, 2012 12:55pm

you can use eseutil /y to copy the DB, more about that here http://blogs.msdn.com/b/granth/archive/2010/05/10/how-to-copy-very-large-files-across-a-slow-or-unreliable-network.aspx However it sounds like you may be having some type of disk related issue and therefore the copy may not be able to complete from the source to the target. So you may be forced to fix that array issue, i.e. ensure all is seated well, firmware up to date etc, else you may need to recover from backup. Troy Werelius www.Lucid8.com Search, Recover, & Extract Mailboxes, Folders, & Email Items from Offline EDB's and Live Exchange Servers with Lucid8's DigiScope
September 14th, 2012 1:12pm

Hi, Thanks for the replies. I don't have a backup to restore from which is why I desperately need to figure out a way of getting a copy of this .edb file. I've been told by Dell tech support that my RAID5 is punctured, and the only way I can fix it is by wiping the RAID and recreating it. However, I can't wipe it without backing up the exchange information...
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September 14th, 2012 1:24pm

I've tried using ESEUTIL /Y as instructed here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996409(v=exchg.80).aspx but it doesn't work. From my exchange server (eg server1) I run: ESEUTIL /Y \\server1\d$\mailbox database.edb /D\\server2\d$\mailbox database.edb It then says: Usage error: Invalid Arguement 'database.edb'. Options must be preceded by '-' or '/'. So, it seems like I'm not getting the syntax right but I can't see where I'm going wrong and google isn't being much help.
September 14th, 2012 1:54pm

Wrap the long file name in quotes i.e. ESEUTIL /Y \\server1\"d$\mailbox database.edb" /D\\server2\d$\mailbox database.edbTroy Werelius www.Lucid8.com Search, Recover, & Extract Mailboxes, Folders, & Email Items from Offline EDB's and Live Exchange Servers with Lucid8's DigiScope
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September 14th, 2012 4:30pm

Hi Troy, Thanks for your reply. Do I just wrap the source file path in quotes, or the destination (server2) path as well? EDIT: the actual file path to my .edb file is quite long, ie it isn't right under D as the syntax shows. So, I should probably be running: ESEUTIL /Y \\server1\"d:\program files\microsoft\exchange server\mailbox\mailbox database.edb" /D\\server2\d$\mailbox database.edb Also, on server2, can I just copy it to D: ? using the \\server2\d$\mailbox database.edb path? or should I recreate all the same folders from server 1 and drop it in the same place? Sorry for the simply / obvious questions.
September 14th, 2012 4:44pm

BothTroy Werelius www.Lucid8.com Search, Recover, & Extract Mailboxes, Folders, & Email Items from Offline EDB's and Live Exchange Servers with Lucid8's DigiScope
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September 14th, 2012 5:07pm

On Fri, 14 Sep 2012 17:54:38 +0000, Chris30-UK wrote: > > >I've tried using ESEUTIL /Y as instructed here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996409(v=exchg.80).aspx but it doesn't work. > >From my exchange server (eg server1) I run: > >ESEUTIL /Y \\server1\d$\mailbox database.edb /D\\server2\d$\mailbox database.edb Do you really have a space in the mailbox database name??? Try surrounding the arguments with quotes ('"'). --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP
September 14th, 2012 5:48pm

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I have a space in the database name, I think that was the default when I installed it 3 years ago..
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September 14th, 2012 6:05pm

hello, Are you dismounting the IS and stopping the Exchange services before copying the database? There is a very good utility for copying files, it's called RICHCOPY. http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/d/0/fd05def7-68a1-4f71-8546-25c359cc0842//HoffmanUtilitySpotlight2009_04.exe Have you tried surrounding the DB file name with quotes as Rich stated? If the DB cannot copy, you may have to check the DB or the entire disk for consistency. Also, you can try the EXMERGE utility to backup the individual mailboxes into PST files as a precaution if the DB does not copy over. http://www.falconitservices.com/support/KB/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=49 You can also set up another Exchange server and move individual mailboxes to it. Miguel Fra | Falcon IT Services, Miami, FL www.falconitservices.com | www.falconits.com | Blog
September 14th, 2012 8:22pm

On Fri, 14 Sep 2012 22:05:40 +0000, Chris30-UK wrote: >Thanks for the replies. > >Yes, I have a space in the database name, I think that was the default when I installed it 3 years ago.. The unprotected space is seen as the end of the value. What follows the unprotected space is taken to be the next switch identifier. This should do it: ESEUTIL /Y "\\server1\d$\mailbox database.edb" /D"\\server2\d$\mailbox database.edb" --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP
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September 14th, 2012 10:19pm

I think the punctured RAID is stopping me copying the .edb file so my new plan is to try and export all mailboxes into .pst files (we only have 15 mailboxes). I understand I should use the Exchange Management Shell, but all the guides seem to be doing things a lot of complex than just export all mailboxes. Can someone help with the syntax? I just want to export the .pst files to a separate file server? EDIT: On my exchange server logged in as administrator I've tried to run the following cmd in the EMS: export-mailbox -identity username -PSTFolderPath C:\PST -Confirm:$false Obviously, I swapped username for a real person. I have already created the "PST" folder under C:. The erro I get back is: The log file directory 'C:\program files\microsoft\exchange server\logging\migrationlogs' does not exist. I've checked manually, and I can see that the folder mentioned does not exist. Should this folder exist? Should this folder be created when I execute this cmd and it is failing? Or something else? I appreciate all comments.
September 15th, 2012 5:46am

Update: I found on another page where people were saying if they made this folder on the client PC which I'm running the command and create a registry key it should work. details here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-GB/exchangesvrmigration/thread/a143664a-71b1-4c64-9928-71ec3ea809c9 This did get me passed my initial error but I came up against another one "MAPI exceptionnetworkerror" It turns out this was because my database was unmounted and the MX Information Store was stopped (from when I was trying to copy the .edb file!) Finally, I am able to export the .pst files. EDIT: I've just noticed I'm getting a message at the bottom of the export output which says "Error occurred in the step: Moving messages. This mailbox exceeded the maximum number if corrupted items specified for this move mailbox operation." In the target destination folder I can see all the .pst files I've exported and they all seem like they are the correct file size etc. Should I be worried?
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September 15th, 2012 11:00am

On Sat, 15 Sep 2012 14:52:24 +0000, Chris30-UK wrote: > > >Update: > >I found on another page where people were saying if they made this folder on the client PC which I'm running the command and create a registry key it should work. details here: > >http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-GB/exchangesvrmigration/thread/a143664a-71b1-4c64-9928-71ec3ea809c9 > >This did get me passed my initial error but I came up against another one "MAPI exceptionnetworkerror" > >It turns out this was because my database was unmounted and the MX Information Store was stopped (from when I was trying to copy the .edb file!) > >Finally, I am able to export the .pst files. > > > >EDIT: I've just noticed I'm getting a message at the bottom of the export output which says "Error occurred in the step: Moving messages. This mailbox exceeded the maximum number if corrupted items specified for this move mailbox operation." > >In the target destination folder I can see all the .pst files I've exported and they all seem like they are the correct file size etc. Should I be worried? You should be worried. Increase the "-BadItemLimit" value on the export-mailbox to some large value. The export stops after exceeding the limit. --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP --- Rich Matheisen MCSE+I, Exchange MVP
September 15th, 2012 12:36pm

Hi , you have only 15 mailbox to export , okay that a small number of mailboxes but you seem to have trouble exporting to PST -- http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2007/04/13/3401913.aspx " Export/Import to PST Requirements In order to export or import mailboxes to PST files the following requirements must be met: Export/Import to PST must be run from a 32 bit client machine with Exchange Management Tools installed (Version Exchange 2007 SP1 or later). The 32bit requirement comes from a dependency with the Outlook client. Either Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007 must be installed on the client machine. The user running the task must be an Exchange Organization Admin or an Exchange Server Admin on the server where the mailbox to export/import lives."Also give your self full permissions on those mailboxes then you can preform dial tone recovery http://www.outlookexchange.com/Articles/AndersonPatricio/AndersonPatricio_c1p2.asp http://blogs.technet.com/b/dhardin/archive/2009/08/25/simplifying-the-dial-tone-database-recovery-process-in-exchange-2007.aspx Rebuild your array create now DB -- swap the users back import the PST files again I guess the downtime will be minimum
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September 15th, 2012 1:00pm

Rich> Thanks for this, I will re-run the export with this key prior to deleting the RAID. Ayman> That article on dial-tone recovery looks excellent - I will definitely use it. I'll report back once I have the RAID reinitialised and mark all the replies as helpful / as the answer etc. thanks everyone
September 17th, 2012 4:19am

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