Restoring backed-up MSS data

Understanding when to restore data

You should restore MSS data when one of the following events occurs:

You are directed to perform a restore by an alarm repair action.

You contact your remote support center about an issue and they instruct you to perform a restore.

The MSS stops operating and will not boot.

If you are not sure whether it is necessary to perform a restore, contact your remote support center.

Completing prerequisite actions

Depending on the severity of the situation, you might be instructed to perform additional steps before restoring the backed-up data to the MSS:

If the MSS is still operating, you might be required to add software packages.

If the MSS has become corrupted and will not boot (for example, after a power failure), you must replace the hard disk drive, reload the operating system, and then add software packages. For hard disk drive replacement procedures, see the appropriate document for this type of hardware, either Replacing S3400-family server components or S3500-Family Hardware Maintenance and Additions (pdf).

Performing a restore from DVD-RAM

Depending on the amount of data on the system, it usually takes between 15 and 60 minutes to restore data to the MSS from one DVD-RAM medium.

To restore system data from DVD-RAM:

Stop the messaging software.

Locate the backup medium or media that contain the data to be restored.

Insert the backup medium into the DVD-RAM drive.

Note: If you are restoring data from multiple DVD-RAM media, make sure you insert the medium labeled "DVD #1" first.

Go to the Restore from DVD page.

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 Adding software packages for these procedures.

For each data type that you do not want to restore, select No from the drop-down list for that data type. Yes is the default setting for all data types.

Click Start Restore to restore the selected data types.

The system displays restore information as it prepares for the restore and then displays the following message:

****************************************************************************

Please insert DVD or CD-ROM number 1

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Click Continue.

The system begins to restore data from the backup medium.

When the restore is complete, the system displays the following message:

Restore completed successfully - Day, Date, and Time

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. If the restore process was unsuccessful, do the following:

Return to Step 2 and attempt the restore again.
If the process fails a second time, access the Alarm log and determine if there are any active alarms in the log. See MSS alarms and follow the associated repair actions for any active alarms.

If you do not have any remote networked machines, continue with Step 10. If you have remote networked machines, do the following:

Run a manual update to and from all remote networked machines to correct any database inconsistencies. See Performing remote subscriber updates manually.
Reboot the system.
Continue with Step 11.

Click Reboot System at the bottom of the page.

Restore MAS data, if necessary. See Restoring backed-up MAS data.

Performing a restore from a remote storage location

Depending on the amount of data on the system, it usually takes between 15 and 60 minutes to restore data to the MSS from a remote storage location.

To restore system data from a LAN backup:

Stop the messaging software.

Go to the Restore from Remote Storage Location page.

The system displays the following message:

Proceeding with the restore will overwrite existing data.

Press the "Proceed with Restore" button to continue.

To continue with the restore, click Proceed with Restore.

The system displays the View/Restore Contents of FTP/SFTP Server page.

Select the backup from which you want to restore data.

Place a check in the box next to the data types that you want to restore.

Click Start Restore to restore the data from the selected backup.

The system begins to restore data from the backup.

When the restore is complete, the system displays the following message:

Restore completed successfully - Day, Date, and Time

If the restore completed successfully, continue with Step 9. If the process was not successful, the log contains an explanation of why the restore process failed. See Verifying the restore. If the restore process was unsuccessful, do the following:

Return to Step 2 and attempt the restore again.
If the process fails a second time, access the Alarm log and determine if there are any active alarms in the log. See MSS alarms and follow the associated repair actions for any active alarms.

If you do not have any remote networked machines, continue with Step 10. If you have remote networked machines, run a manual update to and from all remote networked machines to correct any database inconsistencies. See Performing remote subscriber updates manually.

Click Reboot System at the bottom of the page.

Restore MAS data, if necessary. See Restoring backed-up MAS data.

Verifying the restore

To verify the restore:

On the Restore Logs page, which contains a drop-down list with the available restore logs, select the restore log that you want to view and click View.

Scroll to the end of the restore log and verify that there is an entry with the following text:

Restore completed successfully - Day, Date, and Time

If the restore was not successful, the log contains an explanation of why the restore process failed.