How to Recover Exchange Server 2019 Database?
Updated On - October 19, 2022
In Exchange Server, Microsoft has enabled multiple security features and they are effective enough to be prepared against several external threats. Some are enabled by default, and some are available for you after you enable them manually. Here are some security settings, filters, and protection features present in Exchange.
- Ant-spam and antimalware protection
- Content Filtering
- Sender Filtering
- Attachment Filtering
Ant spam and antimalware protection is present in the Exchange Server 2016 and 2019. Anti-spam protection is provided by the in-built transport agents and is enabled by default on Edge Transport servers.
Antimalware was introduced in the Exchange Server 2013 and is present to protect all the mailboxes of the Exchange Server.
Content filtering checks all the incoming messages for their legitimacy. The filter checks whether the email is genuine or spam. It matches the message from the existing samples of genuine and spam emails and then decides whether to allow the message or not.
Sender Filtering keeps a list of blocked senders and evaluates the value of the MAIL FROM of the SMTP connections from the blocked sender’s list. This feature is present in Exchange since Exchange Server 2010.
Attachment filtering works on the Edge Transport servers and handles the incoming email message that has the attachments. It is done by the Attachment Filtering Agent and there are several actions to perform like Filtering based on a file name or file name extension, Filtering based on file MIME content type, Reject (block) the message, Strip the attachment but allow the message through, silently delete the message, etc.
In Exchange, Microsoft has included many data protection features which empower administrators to meet compliance requirements and face data disasters. A combination of these native data retention methods helps them meet all their data retention requirements easily.
Generally, the following are the scenarios which Exchange administrators have to be prepared for.
- Disaster Recovery
- Recover accidentally deleted items
- Backup storage for long term
- Point-in-time Database Snapshot
Database Availability Groups (DAG) keep multiple copies of the databases to ensure availability of data always. In the case of failure of software or hardware, users can easily get data from any member of the database availability group. You can extend these database availability groups to a variety of sites and save yourself from any storage, server, data center, or network related failures.
Generally, the recovery process of deleted items includes finding the backup file where the data was saved earlier, then accessing the data from it and restoring to the database back. But the latest version of Exchange Server 2019 and 2016 provides Recoverable Items Folder. You can apply a Hold Policy on the Recoverable Items Folder too, and it will hold the deleted and modified data for a given period. It makes it easy for administrators and users to access the data from the folder, and there is no need to run any recovery procedure.
Backups are the most common form of storing the Exchange data at a safe location and later retrieve it in case of any database failure. Backups are archives which are encrypted and protects the data for the long term. The latest Exchange backup archiving, multiple mailbox search and message retention features have increased the safety of data, and now the user can save the data for a longer period.
Point-in-time snapshot is a unique feature which creates a lagged copy of the database at the database availability group. It is useful in a scenario when a logical corruption has hit the Exchange, and you need to go to a previous state of the Exchange. It is also helpful in restoring the accidentally deleted items. The advantages of using the point-in-time snapshot are that it takes quite less time than a backup for restoring the data. It does not require the copy process from the backup server to the Exchange server.
With the help of native Exchange data protection features, you can strengthen your data retention capabilities. But there are multiple threats like malware, spyware intrusion, hardware failure, software failure, user errors which cause the Exchange database to become corrupt. In such a case, you need expert assistance, which helps you to fix the error and recover all the data. Also, you can fix the issues with the help of a good Exchange recovery tool like Recoveryfix for Exchange Server Recovery.
Recoveryfix for Exchange Server Recovery
Recoveryfix for Exchange Server Recovery is a database recovery software which accesses the corrupt EDB file, scans it, removes the corruption, and brings the entire data back to you. It supports all Exchange versions including Exchange 2019. Here is its detailed working procedure;
- Install and run the software. There are two sections for source and destination Files. Click the Select Source icon.
- The software presents a list of various source files. Select the first one for the EDB file.
- Click the Browse button and select the EDB file from its location (the tool can also search the EDB file in any drive or folder). Click Next.
- The tool offers two scan mode for your EDB file – Standard Scan and Deep Scan. You can choose any scan mode based on the severity of corruption. Click Next.
- The tool scans and repairs the EDB file. Click Finish.
- Entire mailboxes of the EDB file are presented in the proper tree-structure. Expand any mailbox and check its contents. The deleted items are present in red color. Finally, click the Add destination icon.
- Choose the first option to create a new PST file. You can also choose to save the data in an existing PST file too. Click Next.
- Browse a suitable location for the PST file, then provide a new name to it. Click Next.
- The tool creates a new PST file. Click Finish.
- Select the messages from source EDB file. Right-click them and select Copy Message(s).
- Go to destination section, right-click, and choose Paste Message.
- The tool moves the data and shows a migration report.
- At last, you have recovered the corrupt data from the EDB file to a PST file.
You can access the PST file in the Outlook application and see the messages there.
Conclusion
Recoveryfix for Exchange Server recovers all the inaccessible content from the Exchange database. The structure of the mailboxes remains the same in the tool and you can check all the folders and their content while previewing. It is also very easy to use the software as it performs the whole recovery with no complexities.
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Of all the manual methods you have described, which one is the easiest way to recover Exchange Server Database?
Hi, Carmen
Well, the easiest way to retrieve the data back is to use the highlighted third-party tool Recoveryfix for Exchange Server Recovery. However, if you want to go with the manual procedures, you have to choose the appropriate method as per the data loss situation. For instance, if you have accidently deleted the data you can easily recover it back from the Recoverable Items folder.
I find the article really helpful. Thanks for sharing such valuable information. Besides, I liked the way you have described the Exchange Recovery process.
I find the article really helpful. Thanks for sharing such valuable information. Besides, I liked the way you have described the Exchange Recovery process.