How to Swap Exchange Database Files by Swapping Logical Paths

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This topic explains how to move Microsoft® Exchange database files by swapping logical paths. For more information, see How to Swap Databases Between the Recovery Storage Group and the Original Storage Group.

Procedure

How to swap Exchange database files by swapping logical paths

  1. Notify users of an impending service outage.

  2. In Microsoft Windows® File Manager, create a folder on the recovery storage group database drive called \SaveOriginal.

  3. In Exchange System Manager, disconnect from the recovery storage group database.

  4. At a command prompt, verify that the recovery storage group database is in the Clean Shutdown state with the command Eseutil /mh [database filename].edb.

  5. In Windows File Manager, move the database files (.edb and .stm) to the \SaveOriginal folder.

  6. In Exchange System Manager, delete the database in the recovery storage group. This operation removes the logical structure of the database from Exchange System Manager, but it does not affect the database files.

    Note

    Even if you fail to move the database files in the previous step, they will not be deleted by doing this.

  7. In Windows File Manager, create a folder on the original database drive called \SaveDialTone.

  8. In Exchange System Manager, disconnect from the dial tone database in the original storage group.

  9. At a command prompt, verify that the dial tone database is in the Clean Shutdown state with the command Eseutil /mh [database filename].edb.

  10. In Windows File Manager, move the dial tone database files to the \SaveDialTone folder.

  11. In Exchange System Manager, change the path for the original database to point to the recovery storage group database paths. Because there are no databases to be moved, the change can be done quickly. If you need to change the database file names, rename them now in Exchange System Manager rather than renaming the actual files.

  12. In Windows File Manager, move the files from the \SaveOriginal folder into place in their previous location, which is now the path configured for the original database.

  13. In Exchange System Manager, open the Properties dialog box of the database, and on the Database tab, select the This database can be overwritten by a restore check box.

  14. Mount the database so that users can log on again.

  15. In Windows File Manager, create a folder called \Dialtone next to the \SaveDialTone folder.

  16. In Exchange System Manager, re-create the database in the recovery storage group, pointing the database paths to the \DialTone folder. Remember to match the file names with the actual database file names.

  17. In Windows File Manager, move the files from the \SaveDialTone folder to the \DialTone folder.

  18. In Exchange System Manager, mount the recovery storage group database.