Problem Description:
In environments where Domain Controllers (DCs) are protected using Druva VMware backups, administrators may require recovery of Active Directory (AD) components after a Domain Controller failure.
Common recovery requirements include:
Recovering a failed Domain Controller virtual machine
Restoring Active Directory users, groups, OUs, or GPOs
Performing authoritative or non-authoritative Active Directory restores
Recovering individual files or disks from a Domain Controller VM
Administrators may expect granular Active Directory recovery capabilities from VMware image-level backups.
Cause:
VMware agentbased backups in Druva are image-level backups and do not provide granular Active Directory object recovery capabilities.
The following limitations apply to Domain Controllers protected through VMware backups:
Active Directory object-level restore is not supported
Granular recovery of users, groups, OUs, and GPOs is not available
Authoritative and non-authoritative Active Directory object restore workflows are not performed through Druva VMware image backups
Backups may be VSS-consistent, but VSS consistency does not provide AD object-level recovery functionality
VMware agentbased backups protect the virtual machine image and allow VM-level recovery, but not granular Active Directory database recovery.
Traceback / Logs:
Observed scenario:
Domain Controller virtual machine becomes unavailable or corrupted
Requirement to recover Active Directory objects from VMware backups
VMware image backups are available in Druva
Individual AD objects cannot be restored from the backup image
Supported recovery operations include:
Full VM restore
Virtual disk restore
File-level restore
Unsupported recovery operations include:
Restoring individual AD users
Restoring groups or Organizational Units (OUs)
Restoring Group Policy Objects (GPOs)
Granular Active Directory database recovery
Resolution:
Scenario: Domain Controller Failure Recovery
If a Domain Controller protected through VMware agentless backup fails, use the following recovery approach:
Step 1: Perform Full VM Restore
Log in to the Druva Management Console.
Locate the protected VMware virtual machine for the affected Domain Controller.
Initiate a Full VM restore operation.
Restore the VM:
To the original location if available
Or to an alternate VMware location if required
Reference documentation:
Step 2: Validate Domain Controller Health
After the VM restore:
Verify Active Directory services are running
Validate replication status between Domain Controllers
Check SYSVOL and NETLOGON shares
Confirm DNS and authentication functionality
Step 3: Follow Microsoft Active Directory Recovery Guidelines
Depending on the recovery scenario:
Perform non-authoritative restore procedures if replication from healthy Domain Controllers is expected
Perform authoritative restore procedures only when required for AD recovery scenarios
Important:
Improper Domain Controller recovery may result in:
USN rollback
Replication inconsistencies
Lingering objects
Active Directory database corruption
Reference documentation: