About restoring Active Directory when restoring Exchange Server

sakura_snow_blossom 190 Reputation points
2023-09-18T03:18:50.5333333+00:00

Thank you.

Previously, after switching from Exchange Server 2013 to 2019 and uninstalling 2013, I asked if there was a way to return to 2013 again using Windows Server backup.

　　https://video2.skills-academy.com/en-us/answers/questions/1363147/about-how-to-return-from-exchangeserver2019-to-exc

I was told that if you uninstall 2013, the attributes and containers used from Active Directory will be deleted, so it is likely that you will not be able to restore it using Windows Server Backup.

After that, an in-house expert told me that ``If you prepare a backup of Active Directory together with Exchange Server 2013 and restore it together, you can restore it to its original state.''

I haven't prepared the development environment yet so I can't confirm, but is there a possibility that I can get things back to their original state by restoring Active Directory as well?

In that case, should I use WindowsServerbackup to back up Active Directory?

　　https://video2.skills-academy.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/forest-recovery-guide/ad-forest-recovery-backing-up-a-full-server#windows-server-backup

Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
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Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2012
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.
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Active Directory
Active Directory
A set of directory-based technologies included in Windows Server.
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Exchange Server Management
Exchange Server Management
Exchange Server: A family of Microsoft client/server messaging and collaboration software.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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Windows Server Backup
Windows Server Backup
Windows Server: A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.Backup: A duplicate copy of a program, a disk, or data, made either for archiving purposes or for safeguarding valuable files from loss should the active copy be damaged or destroyed.
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  1. Yuki Sun-MSFT 41,006 Reputation points
    2023-09-18T08:18:49.29+00:00

    Hi @sakura_snow_blossom ，

    I haven't prepared the development environment yet so I can't confirm, but is there a possibility that I can get things back to their original state by restoring Active Directory as well? In that case, should I use WindowsServerbackup to back up Active Directory?

    Both are yes.

    As we all know, much of the Exchange configuration settings are stored in AD. Theoretically, after backing up the Active Directory Server using WindowsServerBackup together, you are likely to restore the Active Directory server back to the original state first. And as long as Active Directory is healthy, you can then be able to recover the Exchange 2013 to its original state as well using the backup.

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  1. sakura_snow_blossom 190 Reputation points
    2023-09-18T09:51:39.71+00:00

    Hi@Yuki Sun-MSFT

    Thank you for answering

    Theoretically, after backing up the Active Directory Server using WindowsServerBackup together, you are likely to restore the Active Directory server back to the original state first. And as long as Active Directory is healthy

    I learned that it may be possible to restore by using Active Directory backup.

    I would like to try it in a development environment

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