Data Backup & Restoration Procedures

Below are the procedures used by Information Technology (IT) for performing backups and restoration of user data stored on file servers administered and maintained by IT. See IT Data Storage & Backup Policy for information about IT data storage and backup policies.

File Restoration

As stated in the IT Data Storage & Backup Policy, each user is ultimately responsible for determining the appropriate backup procedures for his or her data. In some cases, for some users, for some data files, the backup procedures described below are determined to be sufficient. In those cases, when data is lost or damaged the following data restoration procedures may be used.

• The Distributed File System provides a mechanism for Windows users to recover previous versions of files themselves. The system provides daily point-in-time snapshots of the data (via Volume Shadow Services). With Volume Shadow Services, a certain percentage of the disk space is reserved for maintaining the snapshots. When the space is exhausted, older snapshots are removed by the system. What this means is that the period of time for which data is recoverable is dependent on file system activity. Thus, there is no guarantee of how far back you will be able to retrieve deleted/modified data.

  Instructions for recovering files using Volume Shadow Services can be found on on the Volume Shadow Copy Client Page.

• The Exchange email server provides a couple of easy-to-restore options for recovering deleted Exchange/e-mail items. For Outlook users, deleted items are moved into the Deleted Items folder and can be easily moved back by the user if the Deleted Items folder has not since been emptied. After items are removed from the Deleted Items folder they are stored in the Exchange "Dumpster" for 10 days. Even POP/IMAP users' deleted items are stored in the Dumpster for 10 days. Items can be recovered from the Exchange Dumpster, using the Outlook client, by selecting the folder in which the deleted item resided prior to deletion, and then selecting "Recover Deleted Items" from the Tools menu. Select the item(s) to be recovered.
• In general, files stored on the local hard drive, diskettes, tapes, etc. cannot be restored by IT once they are damaged or deleted. Users are particularly cautioned to ensure adequate backup copies of locally stored data (on your hard drive) before any upgrade, hardware or software, is performed on your system.
• For data recovery of data stored on file servers administered by IT in situations not already described, users should contact the IT Help Desk or 573-341-4357 (HELP) immediately to request restoration of data. In some, but not all cases, data can be recovered by IT. Users should allow four (4) working days for IT to complete data restoration request.
  Note: A fee will be assessed for the recovery of data; please contact the Help Desk for fee information.