Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 - Failure Recovery for Scenario: Outlook Failure

Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook failure recovery

Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Office Outlook with Offline Access includes functionality that uses Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. This enables Microsoft Dynamics CRM users to work offline with data synchronized to SQL Server when Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook with Offline Access is brought online again.

In some cases, Microsoft Dynamics CRM users may want to back up the local SQL Server 2005 Express Edition database. This is especially useful when Microsoft Dynamics CRM users are offline for prolonged periods. The following table indicates different methods that can be used for backing up Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook with Offline Access.

Backup Method:

Offline backup

What to Back Up for Microsoft Dynamics CRM:

Contents of Microsoft Dynamics CRM data directory. Default location is:
SystemDrive:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Application Data\Microsoft\MSCRM\Data
On Windows Vista, the default location is:
SystemDrive:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\MSCRM\Data

Comments:

Before you start the backup, make sure that the SQL Server (CRM) service is stopped. Restart the service after the backup is complete.

Backup Method:

Online backup using Microsoft tools

What to Back Up for Microsoft Dynamics CRM:

MSCRM_MSDE.mdf
MSCRM_MSDE_log.LDF

Comments:

Use the Osql.exe tool that is provided with Microsoft Office Server Extensions.

Backup Method:

Online backup using non-Microsoft tools

What to Back Up for Microsoft Dynamics CRM:

MSCRM_MSDE.mdf
MSCRM_MSDE_log.LDF

Comments:

Look for tools that are compatible with SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.

If there is a problem with Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook with Offline Access before the user can reconnect to the server, the backup can be used to restore Microsoft Dynamics CRM functionality to the client. Outlook should be in offline mode before you restore the backup. When restored, you can then connect to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server (online mode). The data not already on the server will be transferred to the server from the client. Be careful when reconnecting to the server. If you restore from an outdated backup, the existing data on the server may have subsequently changed. However, neither SQL Server 2005 Express Edition nor SQL Server recognizes this fact. Therefore you run the risk of overwriting current data on the server by using older data from the offline client backup.

My above blog is based on Microsoft's Official information.
 
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