Event ID 1018 — DHCP Backup and Restore

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

Maintaining a backup of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) database protects you from data loss in the event of data corruption or a hard disk failure.

There are three backup methods supported by the DHCP Server service:

  • Synchronous backups that occur automatically. The default backup interval is 60 minutes.
  • Asynchronous (manual) backups, performed by using the Backup command in the DHCP snap-in.
  • Backups using Windows Backup (Ntbackup.exe) or other backup software.

When a synchronous or asynchronous backup occurs, the entire DHCP database is saved.

Event Details

Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 1018
Source: Microsoft-Windows-DHCP-Server
Version: 6.0
Symbolic Name: EVENT_SERVER_DATABASE_RESTORE_FAILED
Message: The DHCP service failed to restore the database. The following error occurred:
%1

Resolve

Repair database and restore from a known good backup

If the DHCP server database becomes corrupted or is lost, recovery is possible by replacing the server database file (Dhcp.mdb), located in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Dhcp folder, with a backup copy of the same file.

If DHCP Manager was used previously to perform a backup, you can obtain the backup copy of the server database file located in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Dhcp\Backup folder. You can also restore the Dhcp.mdb file from a tape backup or other backup media.

To perform these procedures, you must be a member of the Administrators group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To restore a backup copy of the DHCP database:

  1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as Administrator.
  2. Type net stop dhcpserver, and then press ENTER.
  3. Type md c:\olddhcp, and then press ENTER.
  4. Type move %SystemRoot%\system32\DHCP\*.* c:\olddhcp, and then press ENTER.
  5. Type del %SystemRoot%\system32\DHCP\Dhcp.md, and then press ENTER.
  6. Type copy%SystemRoot%\system32\dhcp\backup\jet\new\dhcp.mdb%SystemRoot%\system32\dhcp\dhcp.mdb, and then press ENTER.
  7. Type net start dhcpserver, and then press ENTER.

Verify

To perform these procedures, you must be a member of the Administrators group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To verify that backup and restore was successful:

  1. In the DHCP snap-in, right-click IPv4, and then click Properties.
  2. Navigate to the DHCP database path at %SystemRoot%\System32\Dhcp, and then verify the presence of recently created files.
  3. Type net start dhcpserver, and then press ENTER.** **The output of this command indicates that the server is already running, or starts the DHCP Server service if it was not already running.

DHCP Backup and Restore

DHCP Infrastructure