Restoring MQIS from SQL Backup

ID: Q191535

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Message Queue Server version 1.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Message Queue Server (MSMQ), the Primary Enterprise Controller (PEC), Primary Site Controller (PSC), and Backup Site Controller (BSC) can be restored using a backup copy of the Message Queue Information Store (MQIS) database. However, a backup copy of the MQIS must exist to retain a previous MSMQ Enterprise configuration.

MORE INFORMATION

The MQIS database stores MSMQ Enterprise configuration information. No messages are stored in the MQIS database. Backing up or recovering the MQIS database will not recover messages that may have existed in queues.

For additional information about creating a backup copy of the MQIS database, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q191536
   TITLE     : Backing Up the MQIS Database

Before you attempt to rebuild the PEC, you should take note of the following facts:

It is not necessary to restore the MQIS if a BSC is rebuilt by reinstalling MSMQ as a BSC. The creation of the BSC MQIS is automatically done from the PSC, which does have current information.
When connectivity is consistent so that replication can be relied upon the PEC will contain current information for all PSCs. If it is necessary to rebuild a PSC, the install process automatically pulls the current MQIS data from the PEC. Under these circumstances it may not be necessary to do a separate backup and/or restore for that PSC's MQIS.
SQL Server 6.5 does not allow you to restore a backup of a database from another SQL Server with a different sort order. The default sort order configuration option for the retail versions of SQL Server version 6.5 and SQL Server version 6.5 Enterprise Edition is 52.

To rebuild PEC

NOTE: This procedure is the same for PECs, PSCs, and BSCs. Each of these devices contains an exact copy of the PEC's MQIS database. A PEC can be recovered with a PSC's or BSC's database, and so forth.

You must first re-create the MQIS database and database device.

1. In Windows Explorer locate the MSsql\Data folder. If there is a file

   named Mqis.dat, either rename it or move it to a temp folder.

2. Open SQL Enterprise Manager, open the server, and then register the

   server if necessary. Right-click the Database Devices folder and then
   click New Device.

3. In the Name field of the Create New Database Device dialog box, type

   MQISdata, enter the size (80 MB is default MQ size), and click the
   Create Now button. Repeat this step for the MQISlog, but in the Name
   field type MQISlog, enter the size (20 MB is default MQ log size), and
   click the Create Now button. Close the Create New Device dialog box.

4. Right-click the Databases folder in SQL Enterprise Manager and click New

   Database.

5. In the New Database dialog box enter MQIS in the Name field, in the

   Database Device list click MQISdata, in the Log Device list click
   MQISlog, and then click the Create Now button. This will build the MQIS
   database ready for recovery from the database backup file.

6. In SQL Enterprise Manager, on the Tools menu, click Backup\Restore and

   the Database Backup\Restore dialog box appears. Click the Restore tab
   and click the From Device button. Select the device you created when you
   backed up the MQIS database in the Devices and Files window. Select the
   backup file in the Backup information window, under the Database Device
   list, select MQIS, and click the Restore Now button.

You are now ready to re-install your MSMQ PEC.

1. Start the Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack Setup program and install MSMQ.

2. In the Select MSMQ Device dialog box, click Primary Enterprise

   Controller, and click Continue.

3. In the Enter Enterprise Name and Enter Enterprise Site fields enter the

   name of your Enterprise and Site name. (These entries are ignored when
   Setup detects the existing MQIS database.) Click Continue.

4. The reinstallation of MSMQ begins and the progress is shown on the

   status bar. Near the end, a dialog box appears stating that an MQIS
   database already exists. Click Modify Existing Database and then click
   Continue. MSMQ continues and the installation completes. Your MSMQ PEC
   And Enterprise configuration has now been recovered.

After setup is complete, open MSMQ Explorer and verify the configuration information.

Again, please note that the MQIS database stores MSMQ Enterprise configuration information. No messages are stored in the MQIS database. Backing up or recovering the MQIS database will not recover messages that may have existed in queues. Queues on the failed machine may also need to be re-created if the drive has been formatted or the queues have been deleted.

Additional query words: MQIS backup recovery back up

Version           : WinNT:1.0
Platform          : winnt
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: August 20, 1998