Error code [27:118] Error initializing XML files

A restore job for the VSS-enabled (Volume Shadow Copy Service) Exchange database failed with the Error code 27:118: Error initializing XML files.

Symptoms

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

Error Code 27:118 Error initializing XML files

The error can occur again 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 Applications Event Log on the Windows Server. If either of the conditions were met, the following error appears in the log:

Exchange VSS Writer cannot restore a backup to the storage group 'RestoreDelete' because the database specified for restore ('MBDB.edb' in 'S:\deletetest\mbdb') does not match any of the databases in the target storage group.

The original GUID for the database is 'd22b656b-2564-4684-ba98-524d678b9128', but the target GUID specified in the Restore Options string is 'd22b656b-2564-4684-ba98-524d678b9128', which does not exist in the Active Directory.

Causes

Cause 1

Applies to: Exchange 2007 and 2010

After the original database was deleted and then recreated, the restore job fails.

Cause 2

Applies to: Exchange 2007 and 2010

The restore job fails with the error, even though all the data was restored and the transaction logs were replayed. This failure occurs because the GUID of the original database and the GUID of 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

In this case, you cannot perform an in-place restore operation. You must perform an out-of-place restore operation with the recovery option.

1. From the CommCell Console, expand Client Computers > client.
2. Right-clickExchange Database, and then click All Tasks > Browse and Restore. The Browse and Restore Options dialog box appears.
3. Click View Content.
4. In the left pane of the Client Browse window, expand Exchange Database > Microsoft Information Store > Storage Group/Database.
5. In the right pane, select the database that you want to restore, and then click Recover Databases. The Restore Options for All Selected Items dialog box appears.
6. From the Destination client, select the appropriate client.
7. In the Restore Options area, select Restore to another database.
8. In the list at the bottom of the dialog box, select the Source DB.
9. In the Destination DB/Out of Place Location column, click .... The Choose Database dialog box appears.
10. Select a database, and then click OK.
11. Click OK to close the Restore Options for All Selected Items dialog box.
12. After the restore operation completes, copy the restored .edb file, and then paste it in the correct Exchange database location.
13. Manually mount the stores.

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 Recovery Storage Group (Exchange 2007) or the Recovery Database (Exchange 2010 and later) 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 operation completes, 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 the production database 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, verify 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.