Exchange Data Recovery

Exchange is a data recovery system specially designed for Microsoft Exchange email infrastructure. It’s a fairly complicated process, which is why it’s crucial that only data recovery specialists attempt to recover files with this method.

It’s vital that if data is lost it’s retrieved immediately, as any interruption in service will have a huge impact on business productivity and profitability. For Microsoft Exchange email infrastructures the biggest threat is a server failure, which will cause data loss.

Microsoft Exchange Server is a product developed by Microsoft for messages/emails. It’s collaborative software and is part of Microsoft Server products. Companies that make use of Microsoft infrastructure solutions generally use the Microsoft Exchange Server.

Some of the features include electronic mail (e-mail), calendars, task system and contacts. There is also a feature for mobile support, which enables users to have web-based access to information and data storage from their mobile and other third party connections. Exchange 2007 has improved its storage efficiency. This has been achieved through its new extended memory and larger cache, as well as more efficient routing.

Recovering the data is a complicated process, and if administrators have the forethought to create regular back-ups, the recovery is simpler and quicker to do. However, if there are no recent back-ups, the business will have to call in a professional data recovery service.

MB from DTI Data Recovery, in the UK, explains:
“Exchange Recoveries are usually based around the *.EDB file that goes missing, gets corrupt or even when the Administrator needs this file to be converted to *.PST. In this case, we can either create one large *.PST or break it down into smaller *.PST’s depending on what the client requires. A exchange server creates a file called a *.EDB which contains all the user mails, so this is what’s crucial for recovery or restoration.”

It is recommended that e-mails get archived on a regular basis. Exchange does come with built in virus and anti-spam software to protect e-mails from external threats. The software for viruses and anti-spam is Microsoft’s Exchange Hosted Filtering and Forefront Security software. Another built in protection feature is an application that is used for controlling messages in transport or that require retention. There are also new encryption features for both internal and Internet-based messages for the new 2007 edition of Exchange.

Tools involved in a Exchange Recovery are available for a variety of data loss types. For Exchange specifically, tools can be found at , Microsoft, or on the Exchange site. But these are internal problems, if there is physical damage to the hard drive, a completely different method must be implemented.

Types of physical damage include electrical or mechanical failure, floods or fire. In cases such as these, businesses should not attempt to recover the lost files, but rather make use of professional help.

Media in Exchange servers or mail servers can also suffer the same failures as hard drives. Indications of damage can be seen if the PC refuses to boot. Other symptoms include inaccessible drives or partitions, corrupted data or missing data, as well as inexecutable files or files that are unable to load.

Celeste writes for Data Recovery in the UK.