Using Eseutil To Repair Exchange Database

Overview of Eseutil Utility

Eseutil is a command line exchange server built-in utility that works with Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) , exchange database files(.edb) , streaming files(.stm), log files(.log) linked to an Information Store in storage group . Eseutil is also used for reducing size of database file on disk , copy files , check structure of database table , records , resolve integrity issues related to information store , copy large files efficiently , offline fragmentation .

Default Location of Eseutil Tool

For Exchange Server 2000 and in Exchange Server 2003

For exchange server 2007/2010 /2013/2016

Exchange Database Corruption :

Exchange database is a repository of significant information . Exchange database gets corrupted sometimes due to several reasons such as hardware failure , dirty shut down , corruption of edb files , not enough space on exchange database . There are two types of corruption occur in MS Exchange Server database that is Physical and Logical .

1.  Physical Level /File or Page Level
2.  Logical Level /Database Level /Jet Database Engine
3.  Application Level

In this article I am describing how to repair exchange database using Eseutil .

Causes of Corruption :
1. Hardware failure
2. Some issue in settings of the hardware components .
3. Database is in dirty shut down state .
4. Data storage repository corruption .
5. Failure of Microsoft Jet Database Engine .
6. Not enough space to save more data in Log files

Exchange database recovery Solution :

1. Using Eseutil to repair Exchange database .

Before executing Exchange Utility follow steps :

1. Backup the Exchange mailboxes

2. Run CHKDSK utility to check bad sectors of disk .

3. The EDB database should be dismounted from the Exchange server.

4. Dismount the data storage repository .

Before executing Exchange Utilities Follow Steps :

1. Backup the Exchange mailboxes

2. Run CHKDSK utility to check bad sectors of disk .

3. The EDB database should be dismounted from the Exchange server.

4. Dismount the data storage repository .

How to Use Eseutil

Eseutil is a command line tool that works with Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) , exchange database files, streaming files, log files linked to an Information Store in storage group . Eseutil is also used for reducing size of database file on disk , copy files ,check structure of database table ,records and resolve integrity issues related to information store .

Guide: How to run Eseutil
Follow steps given below :

1. Click on Windows Start and type in search box “Run”
2. In the Run window type , ‘cmd’ and press Enter .

3. Go to default location of Eseutil tool as per Exchange server used .
In case exchange server 2007 default location is : C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\Bin .

4. At the end, type ‘Eseutil.exe’ in command line

5. Execute commands  using Eseutil to repair Exchange Database

For soft recovery that is to bring the database in consistent state execute Eseutil /R .

For hard recovery that is to repair complete corrupted exchange database execute command .

Note: Eseutil repair exchange 2003 , 2007 and 2010 database .

Drawbacks :

1. Eseutil executes on dismounted exchange server .
2. It does not repair logically corrupted database .
3 . Risk of data loss .
4. Time consuming procedure .
5. Tool requires large amount of disk space to execute .

Using Eseutil to repair exchange database method has a lot of disadvantages . Using  Exchange Database Recovery Software  is the best solution to recover corrupted exchange database . Utility  preserve attachments , documents , meta data of emails such as “To”, “From” and other mail items stored in database . Tool recover exchange database 2010 /2013 /2016 and below versions . Demo version of the software is available to  download free for users .