 Related topics
Restoring your network store
You should do backups as a matter of course, but they are of little value unless you know how to use them in case of emergency.
If a problem with your network store occurs, you can do several things, in the order listed below, to detect and solve the problem.
Plan A - Directory rebuild
If there is a reason to do so, rebuild the Directory using the standard rebuild procedure.
Warning
Never attempt a rebuild without first contacting your reseller or our customer support. Failure to do so can cause irrepairable damage to your network store.
Plan B - advanced Directory rebuild options
If the standard rebuild is unsuccessful, rebuild the Directory using the advanced rebuild options.
Warning
Never attempt a rebuild without first contacting your reseller or our Customer Support. Failure to do so can cause irrepairable damage to your network store.
If all rebuilds are unsuccessful, you will need to restore your network store from a backup.
Plan C - restore from backup
Rebuilds (plans A and B) can be performed without using your backup, but if you need to do a restore (plan C), you’ll be glad you have it.
Warning
Never use the File > Restore Old User Directory menu command to restore your network store from a backup. This is used only in conjunction with a rebuild attempt.
A restore recreates an image of your network store as it was when it was last backed up. Any changes made to your network store since then will be lost. Therefore you should only do a restore when absolutely necessary. This becomes a larger issue the older your backup is.
When to perform a restore
There are several situations in which you should restore your network store from a backup:
• if you try to rebuild your Directory, first using the regular, and then the alternate index, and both rebuilds fail (which means that both indices are damaged)
• if the hard drive has failed
If you use Mac OS X, try using a disk utility like the Norton Disk Doctor for Macintosh (a component for Norton Utilities for Macintosh), or Alsoft’s DiskWarrior.
If you use Windows, try using a disk utility like Norton Disk Doctor or Dr. Watson.
• if you are moving your network store to a new drive.
Performing a restore from a backup
To restore your network store from a backup, follow these steps.
1 Make sure the server is shut down.
2 Copy the following folders from your backup medium to your hard drive, replacing the existing damaged versions:
• the folder containing the FirstClass server
• the folder containing the FirstClass network store on the master volume (the volume on which you installed the FirstClass server)
• the folder containing the FirstClass network store on any other volumes you have approved.
3 In the FirstClass scripting PUT command examples there is a sample script which is used to change the audit start time. Copy the script into FCNS/Server/batch. If you do not do this, audit may begin running when you start your server.
 CautionPlace the script in the batch folder before starting the server.
4 Although not required, it’s a good idea to rebuild your Directory after restoring your network store. Be very sure you do not select any options at the bottom of the form.
Warning
Never attempt a rebuild without first contacting your reseller or our customer support. Failure to do so can cause irrepairable damage to your network store.
Selectively restoring network store objects
You can selectively restore objects in your network store for your users. This selective restore feature allows you to use the Export FirstClass scripting command to restore selective items, such as mail, documents, conferences, folders, and so on, which have been deleted from your system by an audit. This feature should be used sparingly and only in emergency situations, as it takes a great deal of time and resources.
Warning
Before beginning a partial restore, ensure your entire network store is backed up to another machine.
Once the backup is complete, issue a FirstClass scripting export command to the administrator to individually move items from the backup to your original network store. The FirstClass scripting script must identify exactly what you want to restore and how you want to restore it.
 NoteThe FirstClass scripting section of our online help contains important information about export. Ensure you have read and understand this information before attempting a selective restore.
NoteIf you are restoring an entire container, for example a Mailbox or Application Server folder, the container with the same name must already exist on your Desktop. We recommend that you create a temporary container for your restored information and then drag items from this container to where you want them to reside. This avoids the problem of overwriting or creating duplicates of existing items.
To selectively restore objects in your network store:
1 Shut down your server and Internet Services.
2 Rename your live FCNS folder.
3 Copy your FCNS backup to the same location as your server (FCServer) and, if the backup FCNS folder is named differently, rename it to FCNS.
4 In the backup FCNS, search for the container or item to restore. If you already know the names of the items you want to restore, skip this step.
5 In the backup FCNS, start the server, log in as administrator and send the following Export command to FirstClass scripting:
export desktop <userid> "item" +r
where:
<userid> is the user ID of the user for whom you are restoring data,
"item" is the container or individual item you wish to restore,
NoteIf your item has a space in the name, you must use quotes (" ") around the item name. Item names are not case sensitive.
+r (recursive) means to restore all items (do not use this variable to restore individual items).
NoteIf you don't use "desktop" and "<userid>" in the script, the server considers administrator the default user.
6 Copy the reply message from FirstClass scripting to a text file and save any/all attachments.
The remaining steps will be done on your live FCNS.
7 Disable the backup FCNS and rename your live network store back to FCNS.
8 Copy and paste the FirstClass scripting script and any/all attachments into a message on your live server.
9 Replace "<objdesc>" (angle brackets included) in the FirstClass scripting script with the path to the correct location, and send the message.
10 Check that the items were restored.
Example 1
Roy Allen has deleted an important email (Financial Report) from his Mailbox. Following the steps described above, the Husky Planes administrator was able to restore this message to his Mailbox. Using the same syntax as in Step 5, the administrator sent this FirstClass scripting script to export the email item 'Financial Report' located in Roy's Mailbox:
export desktop rallen "Mailbox:Financial Report"
The administrator received the reply script from FirstClass scripting.
Next, working in the live server, the administrator copied and pasted the FirstClass scripting script into a message and changed the <objdesc> line to:
SetBase desktop rallen mailbox
to point the FirstClass scripting email to the correct path on Roy Allen's Desktop and restore the email item 'Financial Report' to his Mailbox. The administrator sent the message to FirstClass scripting and Roy now has his important email back in his Mailbox.
Example 2
Amanda Clark, an Avalon Academy employee, is leaving the school . She wants to export all of the contacts in her Contacts folder to Roy Allen, as he is taking over her responsibilities. Following the steps described above, Avalon's administrator was able to export Amanda's entire Contacts folder and send it to Roy. Using the same syntax as in Step 5, the administrator sent this FirstClass scripting script to export Amanda Clark's Contacts folder, located on her Desktop:
export desktop aclark "Contacts" +r
The administrator received the reply script from FirstClass scripting.
Next, working in the live server, the administrator copied and pasted the FirstClass scripting script into a message and changed the <objdesc> line to:
SetBase desktop rallen "Contacts2"
to point the FirstClass scripting email to the correct path on Roy Allen's Desktop where Amanda's Contacts folder will be copied. Then the administrator sent the message to FirstClass scripting. Remember, Roy Allan must have a container called "Contact manager2" already created on his Desktop before running the batch script.
Roy now has a complete copy of Amanda Clark's Contacts folder and all of the contents that reside within it. Notice that the temporary container is a different name from the original container. This is so Roy's original Contacts folder will not be affected in any way. Roy can now pull contacts from the temporary container and place them in his own Contacts folder at his leisure.
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