SharePoint 2010 Web application backup restore

Question

Hello all,

We have a sharepoint server 2010 install in our company and one web application and 5 site collections under this web application,  I take a backup successfully for the whole farm. I then created  new server machine and try to restore this backup. First i restore solutions files which contains workflows, web parts and infopath forms templates. It restores workflows and infopath forms without any problems, but all the web parts display error and therefore didn't restore. I then open the restored web application and try to open the deployed infopath forms it gives an error that "form template is not enabled" i upload this infopath form in central administration and activiate to site collection. Then form opened. Now I have some following question.

1- Why webpart solutions files didn't restore ??? what should i do to restore these files successfully?.
2- Each time when i restore backup should i have to upload infopath forms and activate to site collection again? Are not these install or upload automatically when backup restored???
3- What other measures should i have to take to restore web application ???

I saw msdn articles but they are very detailed and didn't help me. I need comprehensive anwsers from the people who have ever done successfull web application restoration.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Hi Marrena.

I can see your frustration with the difficulty of doing a proper backup restore, it is not all that easy when dealing with customizations.

My best ip to you and all others: record your stpes when setting everything up, install and activate solutions, activate features, if a solution is at site collection or web level, set it up in all locations where used, same as when setting it up the first time.

Then when doing a restore from backup, do the same steps as when setting everything up the first time. The backup will not guarantee that every custom solution is in place after a restore, that will  be up to you.

Perhaps you issue is with not activating site collection and site features that is pert of the solutions? I guess that they have to be activated manually...

Good luck

Regards

---

Thomas Balkeståhl - Technical Specialist - SharePoint - http://blog.blksthl.com
Download the SharePoint Branding Project here
Download the SharePoint 2010 Site Settings Explained here

Answer 2

Thanks Thomas,

I am sorry for the late reply, You said i have to activate my custom forms to every site collection where they belong, yes i did it. But what about the web parts ?? they give error at the time of restore. What i do with them to properly restore ???

Thanks.

Answer 3

Central admin farm backup, stsadm/powershell command, content db back will not work if you have custom solutions.

Better to use or DocAve, Idera tool. It would help to to have the backup of custom solution in one go. If you are willing to use OOB backup then, fist we need to have the same solution, feature activated at destination one and then go for backup and restore