XADM: Storage Group Does Not Mount with -1216

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This article was previously published under Q264228

SYMPTOMS

When you start the information store, if one of the databases in a storage group is missing, you may receive the following errors in the Application Event log:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: ESE98
Event Category: Logging/Recovery
Event ID: 454
Description: Information Store (976) Database recovery/restore failed with unexpected error -1216.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: MSExchangeIS
Event Category: General
Event ID: 9518
Description: Error 0xfffffb40 starting Storage Group /DC=COM/DC=TEST/CN=CONFIGURATION/CN=SERVICES/CN=MICROSOFT EXCHANGE/CN=MICROSOFT/CN=ADMINISTRATIVE GROUPS/CN=AG1/CN=SERVERS/CN=SERVER1/CN=INFORMATIONSTORE/CN=FIRST STORAGE GROUP on the Microsoft Exchange Information Store.

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CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) attempts to bring all databases in a storage group to a consistent state during recovery. To accomplish this, ESE keeps track of all databases in the log files for the storage group. If a database is missing, ESE returns the error -1216, and does not start the storage group.

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RESOLUTION

If you run into this error, there two possible solutions to resolve this issue.

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Solution One

Find the missing database files, and place them in the proper locations. If this is not possible, you need to go to Solution Two.

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Solution Two

If the missing database was deleted or lost, restore the missing database from a backup. While you are restoring this database, you can mount and access the other databases in the storage group by completing the following steps:

Run eseutil /r Log Base Name /I. This allows ESE to take the databases that are present to a consistent state while ignoring the missing databases. After you run this command, any databases that are not present will require restoring from backup. You can specify the location of the log files with the /l option and the location of system files with /s option.
Mount the databases in the storage group that are now present and consistent.
Allow the users on the running database to access their mail.

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