Restoring backed-up system files

This topic contains the following information:

• About restoring backed-up system files
• When to restore backed-up files
• When to reinstall software
• Performing a restore
• Verifying the restore using the Restore Log

About restoring backed-up system files

The Message Networking information stored on rewritable compact disc (CD-RW) backup media during the unattended and attended backup procedures is used to restore the system to an operational state.

When to restore backed-up files

If a system problem or failure occurs, backups can be invaluable in returning the system to an operational state. You are likely to restore backups when directed to do so by an alarm repair action.

Note: Only perform a restore if a system problem or failure occurs.

When to reinstall software

Depending on the severity of the situation, Message Networking system software might have to be reinstalled before you can restore any backups. See Add software packages for these procedures.

Performing a restore

Note: Contact your remote support center if you need help restoring your system.

Depending on the amount of data on the system, it usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes to restore a system from one backup CD-RW. The following procedure works for both attended and unattended backups:

1. Stop the messaging software (voice system). Stopping the system is highly recommended, but not required.
2. Locate the CD-RW that contains the data to be restored and insert it into the drive.
3. From the Administration menu, select Utilities > Backup and Restore > Restore.
   The system displays the Restore page. For information about the fields on this page, click Help.

   Note: The system might notify you that you need to reinstall system software before continuing with data restoration. If so, note which software packages you must reinstall and see Add software packages for these procedures.

4. Select the data types you want to restore:
1. For each data type that you want to restore, select Yes from the drop-down list for that data type. Yes is the default setting for all data types.
2. For each data type that you do not want to restore, select No from the drop-down list for that data type.
5. Click Save to restore the selected data types.
   

   Note: If you are not performing the restore from the console, the system displays a warning message that states that leaving the Restore page will abort the restore. Click OK to acknowledge the warning message.

   The system displays the SSH User Authentication dialog box.

6. Enter your login, for example, sa, in the User name field and your password in the Password field.

7. Click Login.

   Note: If you are performing the restore from the console, the system displays a warning message that states that leaving the Restore page will abort the restore. Click OK to acknowledge the warning message.

   The system displays status information as it prepares for the restore.

   The system displays the following message:

   ************************************************
   Please insert CD-RW number 1
   ************************************************
   Press Enter to continue or ^C (Control C) to quit

8. Press Enter.
   The system then starts the restore and displays each file name that is restored.
   When the restore is complete, the system displays the following message:

   Restore completed successfully - Day, Date, and Time
You must now reboot the machine!

9. Do one of the following:
   • If the restore completed successfully, continue with Step 10.
   • If the process was not successful, the log contains an explanation of why the restore process failed. See Verifying the restore using the Restore Log. If the restore process was unsuccessful, do the following:
     1. Return to Step 2, and attempt the restore again.
     2. If the process fails a second time, access the Alarm Log and determine if there are any active alarms in the log. See Alarms and follow the associated repair actions for any active alarms.
10. Reboot the system.
11. Run an update to and from all remote networked machines to correct any database inconsistencies. See Performing remote updates.

12. Click Return to Main to return to the Administration menu.

Verifying the restore using the restore log

To verify the restore using the Restore Log:

1. Start at the Administration menu, and select Logs > Backup and Restore Logs > View Restore Logs.
   The system displays the View Restore Logs page and a drop-down list with available Restore Logs.
2. Select the restore log that you want to view from the drop-down list, and click View.
   The system displays the View Restore Logs page (with restore data), which contains a list of all the files that were restored and information about any errors that occurred during the restore.
3. Scroll to the end of the Restore Log, and verify that an entry displays with the following text:
   Restore completed successfully - day date time
   If the restore was not successful, the log contains an explanation of why the restore process failed.

4. Click Return to Main to return to the Administration menu.

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