Error Code [28:163] Database not found

A restore operation for a non-VSS-enabled (Volume Shadow Copy Service) Exchange database failed with the error Error Code 28:163: Database not found

Symptoms

A restore operation for a non-VSS-enabled (Volume Shadow Copy Service) Exchange database failed with the following error:

Error Code 28:163 The Exchange server returned the following error message: [0xc7fe1f42] - [Database not found. ]. Api: [HrESERestoreAddDatabase()], Item: [MBDB]

The error can occur under the following conditions:

• A Recovery Storage Group (RSG) or a Recovery Database (RDB) was created for another database.
• The original database was deleted.

Review the extidbrestore.log on the Exchange server where the database is restored. If either of the conditions were met, the following error appears in the log:

6112 166c 03/20 14:08:05 5609 [::DoRestoreWithSharedLogs]: Error in HrESERestoreAddDatabase() (-939647166/0xc7fe1f42). Database not found.

Causes

Cause 1

Applies to: Exchange 2007

When you restore a non-VSS-enabled backup, the system tries to restore to an RSG automatically, if it exists.

Cause 2

Applies to: Exchange 2007 and 2010

The restore job fails with the error even though all of the data was restored, and the transaction logs were replayed. This occurs because the GUID of the original database and the restored database do not match.

Even though the job failed, you can still mount the restored database and use the data.

Cause 3

Applies to: Exchange 2007 and 2010

The restore job fails if the Exchange server to which the data is restored is not the same Exchange server that is used to back up the data.

Resolution

Resolution 1

1. Do either of the following:

• To restore the database to an RSG, make sure that the RSG is associated with the correct database.
• To restore the database to the production server, delete the RSG.

Resolution 2

If you delete the original database, and then create a new one, the name of the new database and the name of the RSG (Exchange 2007) or the RDB (Exchange 2010) must match the name of the original database exactly.

To avoid this error, make sure the names match.

To bring business operations online immediately, you can create a dial tone database. Use the dial tone database to restore basic email services until the RSG or RDB is restored. After the restore is complete, replace the dial tone database with the restored database. To complete the process, merge the data from the dial tone database with the restored (production) database to bring it up to date. For more information, see:

Exchange 2007: "Dial Tone Recovery": https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb310765(v=exchg.80).aspx.

Exchange 2010: "Dial Tone Portability": https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd876950(v=exchg.141).aspx.

Resolution 3

The Exchange server name that you entered during the installation of the Exchange Database Agent must be the correct NetBIOS name of the Exchange server that is assigned the Mailbox server role.

Validate that the Exchange Server Name is correct.

1. From the CommCell browser, expand Client Computers > client.
2. Right-click Exchange Database, and then click Properties. The Exchange Database Properties dialog box appears.
3. On the Generaltab, make sure that the value in the Exchange Server Name box is the correct NetBIOS name of the Exchange server that is assigned the Mailbox server role.
4. Click OK.