Point-in-Time Recovery of Lotus Notes Databases

Any Lotus Notes database that was successfully backed up using the procedures described in Backing Up Lotus Notes Databases can be recovered to its last-known good state or to a point-in-time. A database recovery involves a restore combined with an action by Lotus Domino that applies transaction logs to the restored database, bringing the database to the desired point-in-time or to its last-known good state.

  1. On the Lotus Domino server, rename the Lotus database that you want to recover (if it exists).

  2. Make sure enough space is available on the Lotus Domino server for the recovered database and restored transaction logs.

  3. Shut down the Lotus Domino server. (This is recommended but not required.)

  4. Open the File Restore window in the management console.

  5. On the task panel, click Set Browse Criteria. See Filtering Displayed Jobs for a Restore Job.

  6. Set the browse period to the range as appropriate.

    1. If you are recovering to the present time, set the From (earliest point-in-time) criteria to just before your most recent DATADIR base backup. If you are recovering to a point-in-time other than the present, set the From (earliest point-in-time) criteria to just before your DATADIR base backup that immediately preceded the desired point-in-time, and set the To (latest point-in-time) criteria to the desired point-in-time.

    2. Expand the LOGSDIR directory in the source tree of the File Restore window. If you are recovering to the present time, select all of the transaction logs (.txn files) that are dated since your most recent DATADIR base backup. If you are recovering to a point-in-time other than the present, select all of the transaction logs (.txn files) that are dated between your DATADIR base backup that immediately preceded the desired point-in-time and the desired point-in-time.

  7. Open the Restore Destination Options dialog box by clicking Set Destination Options. See Chapter 28: Restore Job Options.

  8. Set the Existing File Handling field to Skip Existing Files and Directories.

  9. Fill in the Point-in-Time Restore field if you are recovering to a point-in-time other than the present. Enter the date and time (to the second) of the desired point-in-time recovery in the following format:

    mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm:ss

    The hour is based on a 24-hour clock. For example, for 11:00 p.m. on March 1, 2005, enter:

    03/01/2005 23:00:00

Note. If you are recovering to the present time, be sure the Point-in-Time Restore field is empty.

  1. Run your restore job. Restore to the original location. The restored transaction logs will have a .DPX suffix. See Chapter 21: Restore.

  2. On the File Restore window, expand the DATADIR directory and select the Lotus Notes database you want to recover. The following is a portion of a sample File Restore window for a Lotus Notes database restore.

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  1. Select from the DAOSDIR directory the associated files to restore.

  2. Restore to the original location. For more details on defining a restore job, see Chapter 21: Restore.

  3. Start the Lotus Domino server. Check the database contents by using the Notes Client. The database should be restored and recovered (brought up-to-date or to the desired point-in-time by using the restored transaction logs and the active transaction log).

    The recovery uses Lotus Notes API functions. The recovery process looks at all transaction logs in the Lotus Domino log directory and attempts to recover the database.

  4. When you are comfortable that the file has been successfully recovered, delete the following from the Lotus Domino server:

  • The restored transaction logs with .DPX extension

  • The old, renamed Lotus Notes database

Note. Be sure to run a base backup again on the newly recovered database.

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