Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 - Failure Recovery for Scenario: Exchange Server Failure

The process to restore a Microsoft Exchange Server computer that is used by Microsoft Dynamics CRM depends on the other uses of that instance of Exchange Server. Except for the forward mailbox, Microsoft Dynamics CRM does not directly use Exchange Server mailboxes.

Note: Installing the E-mail Router on a computer that is running Exchange Server is not required.

To restore Exchange Server in a Microsoft Dynamics CRM environment, follow these steps:

• Restore Exchange Server.

• If the E-mail Router was installed on the computer that is running Exchange Server, reinstall the E-mail Router.

• Restore the Microsoft.Crm.Tools.EmailAgent.xml file. By default, this file is located in the Drive:\Program Files\Microsoft CRM Email\Service folder. If this file is not available, you must reconfigure the profiles, settings, users, queue, and forward-mailbox information by running the E-mail Router Configuration Manager.
  

My above blog is based on Microsoft's Official information.
 
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Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 - Failure Recovery for Scenario: Active Directory Failure

In most environments, it is highly unlikely that Active Directory will fail on its own, because more than one Active Directory domain controller should be installed. 

To recover from a failed domain controller, follow these steps:

• Reinstall the Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008 operating system.

• Perform a system state restore.

Make sure that you have a method for recovering from an Active Directory failure. Regardless of the size of your environment, you should consider having multiple domain controllers with regular backups of the system state. If your backups are not current, any data that belong to Microsoft Dynamics CRM objects in Active Directory will be orphaned in SQL Server and therefore will be unrecoverable. Any changes that are made in Microsoft Dynamics CRM, such as adding new Microsoft Dynamics CRM users or queues, requires that Active Directory is backed up immediately after the change.

One major problem can occur with Active Directory that stops Microsoft Dynamics CRM from functioning. If an administrator unintentionally deletes the organizational unit (OU) that corresponds to a Microsoft Dynamics CRM deployment, it becomes inoperable. Similarly, if any of the OU security groups that are created by Microsoft Dynamics CRM are deleted (such as PrivUserGroup, ReportingGroup, PrivReportingGroup, SQLAccessGroup, or UserGroup), Microsoft Dynamics CRM will no longer function correctly. In either of these events, an authoritative restore of Active Directory restores the deleted OU, and security groups, to their original state.

My above blog is based on Microsoft's Official information.
 
I hope this blog about 'Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 - Failure Recovery for Scenario: Active Directory Failure' was informative. Please feel free to leave your comments.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 - Failure Recovery for Scenario: Outlook Failure

Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook failure recovery

Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Office Outlook with Offline Access includes functionality that uses Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. This enables Microsoft Dynamics CRM users to work offline with data synchronized to SQL Server when Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook with Offline Access is brought online again.

In some cases, Microsoft Dynamics CRM users may want to back up the local SQL Server 2005 Express Edition database. This is especially useful when Microsoft Dynamics CRM users are offline for prolonged periods. The following table indicates different methods that can be used for backing up Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook with Offline Access.

Backup Method:

Offline backup

What to Back Up for Microsoft Dynamics CRM:

Contents of Microsoft Dynamics CRM data directory. Default location is:
SystemDrive:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Application Data\Microsoft\MSCRM\Data
On Windows Vista, the default location is:
SystemDrive:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\MSCRM\Data

Comments:

Before you start the backup, make sure that the SQL Server (CRM) service is stopped. Restart the service after the backup is complete.

Backup Method:

Online backup using Microsoft tools

What to Back Up for Microsoft Dynamics CRM:

MSCRM_MSDE.mdf
MSCRM_MSDE_log.LDF

Comments:

Use the Osql.exe tool that is provided with Microsoft Office Server Extensions.

Backup Method:

Online backup using non-Microsoft tools

What to Back Up for Microsoft Dynamics CRM:

MSCRM_MSDE.mdf
MSCRM_MSDE_log.LDF

Comments:

Look for tools that are compatible with SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.

If there is a problem with Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook with Offline Access before the user can reconnect to the server, the backup can be used to restore Microsoft Dynamics CRM functionality to the client. Outlook should be in offline mode before you restore the backup. When restored, you can then connect to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server (online mode). The data not already on the server will be transferred to the server from the client. Be careful when reconnecting to the server. If you restore from an outdated backup, the existing data on the server may have subsequently changed. However, neither SQL Server 2005 Express Edition nor SQL Server recognizes this fact. Therefore you run the risk of overwriting current data on the server by using older data from the offline client backup.

My above blog is based on Microsoft's Official information.
 
I hope this blog about 'Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 - Failure Recovery for Scenario: Outlook Failure' was informative. Please feel free to leave your comments.