Is it possible to use RSG in a lab domaim, instead of touching our production servers? Ex2007. i have the tape backup of the storage group i would i like to query. if an RSG is out, could i just create a new storage group and restore to that?

The only way you could use an RSG in another forest would be if it is identical to the original. I do mean identical - same Exchange org, domain name server name etc. Painful. The ideal of an RSG though is that you can use it on the production domain by creating another storage group. They were designed to get rid of the need for recovery servers. Simon. Simon Butler, Exchange MVP Blog | Exchange Resources | In the UK? Hire Me.

thank you could i create a new storage group in the lab and copy the files to it? I tried but it will not mount . its a clean database. i tried run a ESEUTIL /P then /D when i try to mount I get. Error code: MapiExceptionCallFailed: Unable to mount database. (hr=0x80004005, ec=1276)

Thats because the database is from different exchange org. Can you check the application log and look for event id 1088 Event ID: 1088 Source: MSExchangeIS Type: Error Category: General Description: The information store could not be loaded because the distinguished name (DN) of message database /O=old_org_name/OU=old_site_name/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN= does not match the DN of directory /O=new_org_name/OU=new_site_name/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=. In Exchange 2007 you can mount the exchange database in on any server provided that should be part of the same exchange org. If you want to mount that database on LAB environment. There is a tool called Legacydn. Using that you can rename the exchange org. Note - This tool is recommended only for Lab environment. Never ever try that in production. Once your exchange org name has been change. you should be able to mount that database in your lab environmentPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread. Hasnain Shaikh| My blogs: http://messagingserversupport.com

thank you could i create a new storage group in the lab and copy the files to it? I tried but it will not mount . its a clean database. i tried run a ESEUTIL /P then /D when i try to mount I get. Error code: MapiExceptionCallFailed: Unable to mount database. (hr=0x80004005, ec=1276) Did you read what I wrote above - the lab environment has to be 100% identical. Anything different and the database will not mount. Personally I would mount it in the production environment as an additional Storage Group. Simon. Simon Butler, Exchange MVP Blog | Exchange Resources | In the UK? Hire Me.