Direct Restore Utility

Topic

This article explains how to use Datto's Direct Restore Utility.

Environment

  • Datto Direct Restore Utility

Description

The Datto Direct Restore Utility is a Windows executable that lets you mount volume restores via iSCSI from any recovery point on the Datto appliance.

When used in conjunction with the Windows Robocopy tool, the Direct Restore Utility allows a user to:

  • Retain file permissions when transferring them from the utility back to the Windows desktop.
  • Restore files touched by Windows deduplication.
  • Restore files touched by Windows file encryption.

Prerequisites

  • Windows XP or newer
  • Microsoft iSCSI initiator installed on the production system accessing the restore

Incompatibilities

  • Windows 2000 is unsupported
  • Recovery points from macOS will not mount as a logical drive in Windows

Procedure

  1. Download the Direct Restore Utility here (can also be downloaded from download.datto.com).
  2. Close all other applications.
  3. Run the installer program. When installation is complete, launch the Direct Restore Utility.
  4. In the Login dialog box, click the Host menu and enter the local IP address of the Datto device.
  5. Enter the local user on the Datto Device as the Username, and fill in the Password field.
  6. Choose the agent and snapshot you want to mount, then click Mount.

IMPORTANT  Make sure the Microsoft iSCSI service is running prior to mounting the iSCSI target. Otherwise, the target may fail to mount with an unspecified error.

  1. The restore is now mapped to the next available drive letter.
  2. With the restore mounted, you can copy files from the restore with Robocopy. To unmount a session, return to the Direct Restore Utility, click the session, and then click Unmount Selected or Unmount All.

IMPORTANT  Copying and pasting files from the restore through Windows Explorer may result in a loss of file/folder permissions. Datto recommends using Robocopy to copy files from the restore.

Technical notes:

  • If your restore does not show up as a drive in Windows, open Disk Management, right-click on the drive, and select Online. The restore should then show up with a drive letter.
  • If there is data corruption in the recovery point, you will not be able to run chkdsk on the disk. If you need help recovering from corruption, contact Datto Technical Support.
  • Copying and pasting the files through Windows Explorer may result in a loss of file/folder permissions. Datto recommends using Robocopy to copy files from the restore.