How to Recover Exchange 2010 Server using Active Directory System State Backup

In this blog post we’ll learn about how to recover Exchange 2010 when server object is missing from the Active Directory (AD). The procedures explained in this segment would benefit for single Exchange server and single AD Domain.

Before continue the recovery process we need to understand the some point which helps to perfectly perform recovery procedure.

• Valid AD backup exists and completely tested
• Exchange server configuration objects that has been accidentally deleted using ADSIEDIT
• Without any modifications Exchange server is intact 
• Exchange services are in running mode. 

Let’s Explore >> Scenario 

Before Deletion >> Here you can see the client is connected with Exchange server

>> Exchange 2010 server is online 

After Deletion >> Here you can see the client is disconnected

 First step to fix this, we can check Exchange services 

“Microsoft Exchange Address Book” Service is an important service for client connectivity, but here you can see its status is empty that means it stopped. Although the other services are running when you try to restart it’ll not succeed. Some serious issues from AD end.

You’ll receive following error when you open Exchange Management console

Exchange Management Shell error clearly show the “SERVER IS MISSING” and it also show “Enter the server FQDN where you want to connect”. 

From the above error. It is confirm that some deletion took position from Active directory end. In the coming up section we’ll have a look at how to restore active directory using system state backup.

Let’s Start the Recovery procedure

Used Window Server Backup feature for restoring the backup

Step1) Signup the “Domain Controller” and click on “Start”
Navigate “Run” and enter “MSconfig” then hit on “OK”

Step2) Now system configuration window will appear on this screen
Choose “Boot” tab and from the Boot options check mark on Safe boot then select “Active Directory” repair then click on “OK”

 Now restart the “System configuration” 

 Step3) Log-in DSRM

 Step4) Open Windows server backup >> Select latest backup and then click on “Recover” option from the right pane.

 Step5) Getting Started window will appear on the display
Select “The Server (DC1)” option and click on “Next” tab.

>> From the Select Backup date
Select the backup date to use for recovery >> click “Next”

>> From the “Select Recovery Type”. Choose last “System State” option and hit on “Next” 

 >> From “Select Location for System State Recovery”
Here select “Original Location” and also select “Non-Authoritative” restore option.

 >> Warning Alert 

 >> From the confirmation section
Mark on “Automatically Reboot” option and click on “Recover” tab

>> From the Recovery Progress
Here you can get the complete recovery status

After completed recovery process server will reboot automatically. Now log-in Domain controller in normal mode.
>> Go to Run >> Enter “MSconfig” then hit on “OK”

>> Now system configuration window will appear on this screen

Choose “Boot” tab and form the Boot options check un-mark on Safe boot then disable “Active Directory” repair then click on “OK”

Now system will be rebooted, log-in with Domain Admin Credentials >> open ADSI Edit.msc tool 

Now we are able to see status of “Microsoft Exchange Address Book” object of Exchange server is stared

Open Exchange Management console >> click on “On-premises” option
Here we see Exchange services is running mode

Open Exchange Management Shell >> Here you can see Exchange server is connected

Now open Outlook and finally client is connected 

 Conclusion:
In this blog we have explained how to recover Exchange 2010 server using Active directory System State Backup when server is missing. System state backup play important role, if you have no backup then you unable to perform Exchange server recovery process. In this circumstances Exchange recovery application helps to resolve this problem. The application specially developed for recovery of Exchange server mailbox and extract data from EDB file to PST format.