We've been asked to restore our entire Exchange database to a point in time last year for ediscovery purposes. What is the best way to go about this?

Use the Exchange Recovery Storage Group http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824126 to restore the database from backup (but tell it not to mount) Then you can deliver the raw files to the appropriate party or if you want to look inside the EDB and logs utilize Lucid8's DigiScope http://www.lucid8.com/product/digiscope.asp since it can open the raw files so that you can then browse or search for specific criteria and then export all de-duplicated results to PST, MSG or XML Troy Werelius www.Lucid8.com

Is it possible to restore the entire Exchange server to a separate server outside our domain? Or view mails directly from the EDB?

Is it possible to restore the entire Exchange server to a separate server outside our domain?

You could certaintly look at a doing a disaster recovery scenario but you are going to have to replicate at least one domain controller etc. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb125070(EXCHG.65).aspx and it will take some time but yes its possibleTroy Werelius www.Lucid8.com