Understanding disaster recovery

Domino environment recovery processes

Recovery from catastrophic loss of a Lotus Domino environment that integrates use of the SnapManager for Lotus Domino software and filers can be divided into the following two main processes:

Recovering the Lotus Domino server
Recovering the Lotus Domino Data directory

SnapManager backs up the Domino Data directory (and not the Domino server).

Preparing for disaster recovery

Preparing for disaster ahead of time is key to recovering from it. The first steps to recovery from catastrophic failure of a Domino database or filer should take place long before the event occurs.

Every environment and site is unique and every company has different requirements, depending on the critical nature of the data stored. Taking these differences into account, consider the following general disaster recovery preparation recommendations:

This guideline holds true for archived data. The archive media, such as a NearStore system, should be located off site.

Establish a policy of redundant knowledge by ensuring that more than one person knows how to restore the system. This protects against delayed system recovery.

Keep detailed records and logs of changes in printed or other forms of hardcopy.

SnapManager for Lotus Domino, the Domino server, and the filers are dependent on the Microsoft Windows 2000 environment. Before SnapManager can be used, the Windows 2000 environment must be restored. Therefore, it is important that you back up your Microsoft environment so that you can restore to the same state as part of the recovery process:

Back up your Domino server.
Back up your Windows operating system and any applications running concurrent with the Domino server.