Zarafa is an open source mail server that can be used as an alternative to Microsoft Exchange Server, and hence can easily be integrated with MS Outlook. Moreover, Zarafa has its own email client known as ‘Web Access’, which commonly resembles Outlook’s desktop application. Along with emails, you can also store notes, calendar, and appointments in the database of your Zarafa server.

Zarafa server uses SQL database for storing all the mailbox items. The SQL database of Zarafa server consists of tables and records. The records are just the data items (such as emails, contacts, appointments, notes, etc), whereas the group of tables contains information about these stored records. In other words, you can say that tables are used for managing and storing the data (records) in hierarchical order. Mentioned below is the list of common tables that the SQL database of Zarafa server comprises:

• Properties: The table that contains all the properties of all the stored data items is known as ‘Properties’ table.
• Large Objects (LOB) Table: The table that is used for storing email attachments and pictures of the contact items is known as LOB table.
• Hierarchy: The table that demonstrates the properties corresponding to the items is known as Hierarchy table. This table also shows the folders with respect to their store.
• Users Table: This table stores all users and groups.
• ACL Table: All the information about access rights is stored in this table. For example: the information about which user can view what items is stored in this table.
• Usergroup_ACL Table: The table that is used for storing relations between users and groups is known as usergroup_acl table.
• Outgoingqueue Table: This table stores link to messages before they are sent. The server creates the table.

Zarafa server uses different kinds of storage engine for storing and managing data. One of the largely used types of storage engine used by Zarafa server is InnoDB storage engine. This storage engine uses .frm and .ibdata file format for storing the data. The corruption of these files results in the inaccessibility of all the data stored in the SQL database of the server. Generally, the corruption in these tables is seen in the form of an error message. There are various reasons responsible for the corruption of Zarafa server; some of them are:

• Unexpected shut down of Zarafa application
• Virus infection
• Bad sectors on the hard disk
• Corrupt or damaged file system
• Uninterrupted supply of the power

In such situations, if you have previously created backup of your .frm and .idbata file, then you can easily undo the loss. However, in the absence of proper backup, use of professional Zarafa recovery software (http://www.stellarinfo.com/email-repair/zarafa-server-recovery.php) is recommended. 

An efficient tool for this category repairs even severely damaged .frm and .ibdata files without causing any kind of data loss. The detailed log report created by a professional tool lets you understand the Zarafa recovery process later at any stage. So, opting for professional software is always a better way to overcome data loss caused due to corruption of Zarafa server files.

Author Bio:

Amanda Lakai has been writing as a freelancer blogger since last three years. She is passionate to explore about the various Email recovery tips & tricks and various Email converter tools such as: GroupWise to Exchange Migrator, Zarafa recovery, Apple Mail to Outlook 2011 Converter, NSF to PST Converter and GroupWise to PST Converter etc. She loves to share her findings with the readers so that they can enhance their knowledge-base and also use them in their daily life if required.