---
title: "Start-VBRADForestRestore"
description: "This cmdlet starts a restore of a Microsoft Active Directory forest. The cmdlet restores domain controllers from a backup to the specified target hosts."
canonical: "https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbr/powershell/start-vbradforestrestore.html"
breadcrumb: "Veeam PowerShell Reference > Veeam PowerShell Reference > Data Recovery > Microsoft Active Directory Forest Restore > Start-VBRADForestRestore"
dateModified: "2026-08-19"
---

# Start-VBRADForestRestore

## Short Description
Starts a Microsoft Active Directory forest restore.

**Platform**: VMware, Hyper-V

**Product Edition**: Veeam Universal License

## Syntax
```
Start-VBRADForestRestore -RestorePoint <VBRADForestRestorePoint>
 -DomainRestoreSpec <VBRADForestDomainRestoreSpec[]> [-ReIpRule <VBRADForestReIpRule[]>] [-Reason <String>]
 [-RunAsync] [<CommonParameters>]
```

## Detailed Description
This cmdlet starts a restore of a Microsoft Active Directory forest. The cmdlet restores domain controllers from a backup to the specified target hosts.

Before starting the restore, create a domain restore specification for each domain controller you want to restore. For VMware environments, run the [`New-VBRViADForestDomainRestoreSpec`](new-vbrviadforestdomainrestorespec.md) cmdlet. For Hyper-V environments, run the [`New-VBRHvADForestDomainRestoreSpec`](new-vbrhvadforestdomainrestorespec.md) cmdlet.

## Parameters

<table style="width:100%;" class="Blue_Table">
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Parameter</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Description</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:20%;">
          <p>Type</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Required</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Position</p>
        </th>
        <th style="width:10%;">
          <p>Accept Pipeline Input</p>
        </th>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">DomainRestoreSpec</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies the array of domain restore specifications. Each specification defines the target settings for restoring a domain controller VM. The domain restore specification must contain exactly one root domain. All domain restore specifications must belong to the same Microsoft Active Directory forest as the specified restore point.</p><p>Accepts the <a href="vbradforestdomainrestorespec.md"><code>VBRADForestDomainRestoreSpec[]</code></a> object. To create this object, run the <a href="new-vbrviadforestdomainrestorespec.md"><code>New-VBRViADForestDomainRestoreSpec</code></a> or <a href="new-vbrhvadforestdomainrestorespec.md"><code>New-VBRHvADForestDomainRestoreSpec</code></a> cmdlet.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><a href="vbradforestdomainrestorespec.md"><code>VBRADForestDomainRestoreSpec[]</code></a></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">Reason</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies the reason for the restore operation. Veeam Backup &amp; Replication adds this reason to the restore session log.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>String</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">ReIpRule</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies the array of re-IP rules for the restore. Use re-IP rules when the domain controllers must be restored to a network with a different IP addressing scheme.</p><p>Accepts the <a href="vbradforestreiprule.md"><code>VBRADForestReIpRule[]</code></a> object. To create this object, run the <a href="new-vbradforestreiprule.md"><code>New-VBRADForestReIpRule</code></a> cmdlet.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><a href="vbradforestreiprule.md"><code>VBRADForestReIpRule[]</code></a></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">RestorePoint</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Specifies the restore point for the Microsoft Active Directory forest from which to restore domain controllers.</p><p>Accepts the <a href="vbradforestrestorepoint.md"><code>VBRADForestRestorePoint</code></a> object. To get this object, run the <a href="get-vbradforestrestorepoint.md"><code>Get-VBRADForestRestorePoint</code></a> cmdlet.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><a href="vbradforestrestorepoint.md"><code>VBRADForestRestorePoint</code></a></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>True</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr style="vertical-align:top">
        <td>
          <p class="Table_Text_Bold"><span class="Table_Text_Bold">RunAsync</span></p>
        </td>
        <td>
          <p>Defines that the cmdlet will run the restore operation asynchronously. The cmdlet returns a session object immediately without waiting for the restore to complete.</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p><code>SwitchParameter</code></p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>Named</p>
        </td>
        <td style="width:10%;">
          <p>False</p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>

`<CommonParameters>`

This cmdlet supports Microsoft PowerShell common parameters. For more information on common parameters, see [ Microsoft Docs](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_commonparameters?view=powershell-7).

## Output Object
The cmdlet returns the [`VBRADForestRestoreSession`](vbradforestrestoresession.md) object that contains properties of the Microsoft Active Directory forest restore session.

## Examples

::: example
### Example 1. Microsoft Active Directory Forest Restore to VMware vSphere

This example shows how to start a Microsoft Active Directory forest restore for a VMware vSphere environment. It restores two domain controllers — one from the root domain and one from a child domain.

```
$forest = Get-VBRADForest
$restorePoint = (Get-VBRADForestRestorePoint -ADForest $forest)[0]
$domains = Get-VBRADForestDomain -ADForest $forest
$server = Get-VBRServer -Name "esx01.company.local"
$credentials = Get-Credential
$resourcePool = Find-VBRViResourcePool -Server $server -Name "Resources"
$datastore = Find-VBRViDatastore -Server $server -Name "Datastore01"
$folder = Find-VBRViEntity -Server $server -Name "Discovered virtual machine"
$rootRestorePoint = (Get-VBRADForestDomainRestorePoint -Domain $domains[0])[0]
$rootSpec = New-VBRViADForestDomainRestoreSpec -RestorePoint $rootRestorePoint -Credentials $credentials -Server $server -ResourcePool $resourcePool -Datastore $datastore -Folder $folder -VMName "DC01-Restored"
$childRestorePoint = (Get-VBRADForestDomainRestorePoint -Domain $domains[1])[0]
$childSpec = New-VBRViADForestDomainRestoreSpec -RestorePoint $childRestorePoint -Credentials $credentials -Server $server -ResourcePool $resourcePool -Datastore $datastore -Folder $folder -VMName "DC02-Restored"
$restore = Start-VBRADForestRestore -RestorePoint $restorePoint -DomainRestoreSpec @($rootSpec, $childSpec) -RunAsync -Reason "Disaster recovery"
```

Perform the following steps:

1. Run the [`Get-VBRADForest`](get-vbradforest.md) cmdlet. Save the result to the `$forest` variable.
2. Run the [`Get-VBRADForestRestorePoint`](get-vbradforestrestorepoint.md) cmdlet. Set the `$forest` variable as the `ADForest` parameter value. The cmdlet returns an array of forest restore points (points in time); this example saves the first one to the `$restorePoint` variable.
3. Run the [`Get-VBRADForestDomain`](get-vbradforestdomain.md) cmdlet. Set the `$forest` variable as the `ADForest` parameter value. Save the result to the `$domains` variable. The cmdlet returns all domains in the forest.
4. Run the [`Get-VBRServer`](get-vbrserver.md) cmdlet. Specify the `Name` parameter value. Save the result to the `$server` variable.
5. Run the [`Get-Credential`](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.security/get-credential?view=powershell-7.1) cmdlet. Save the result to the `$credentials` variable.
6. Run the [`Find-VBRViResourcePool`](find-vbrviresourcepool.md) cmdlet. Set the `$server` variable as the `Server` parameter value. Specify the `Name` parameter value. Save the result to the `$resourcePool` variable.
7. Run the [`Find-VBRViDatastore`](find-vbrvidatastore.md) cmdlet. Set the `$server` variable as the `Server` parameter value. Specify the `Name` parameter value. Save the result to the `$datastore` variable.
8. Run the [`Find-VBRViEntity`](find-vbrvientity.md) cmdlet. Set the `$server` variable as the `Server` parameter value. Specify the `Name` parameter value. Save the result to the `$folder` variable.
9. Run the [`Get-VBRADForestDomainRestorePoint`](get-vbradforestdomainrestorepoint.md) cmdlet. Set the root domain (the first element of the `$domains` array) as the `Domain` parameter value. Save the first restore point to the `$rootRestorePoint` variable.
10. Run the [`New-VBRViADForestDomainRestoreSpec`](new-vbrviadforestdomainrestorespec.md) cmdlet to create the specification for the root domain controller. Specify the following parameters:

    - Set the `$rootRestorePoint` variable as the `RestorePoint` parameter value.
    - Set the `$credentials` variable as the `Credentials` parameter value.
    - Set the `$server` variable as the `Server` parameter value.
    - Set the `$resourcePool` variable as the `ResourcePool` parameter value.
    - Set the `$datastore` variable as the `Datastore` parameter value.
    - Set the `$folder` variable as the `Folder` parameter value.
    - Specify the `VMName` parameter value.

    Save the result to the `$rootSpec` variable.

11. Run the [`Get-VBRADForestDomainRestorePoint`](get-vbradforestdomainrestorepoint.md) cmdlet. Set a child domain (the second element of the `$domains` array) as the `Domain` parameter value. Save the first restore point to the `$childRestorePoint` variable.
12. Run the [`New-VBRViADForestDomainRestoreSpec`](new-vbrviadforestdomainrestorespec.md) cmdlet to create the specification for the child domain controller. Specify the same parameters as for the root domain controller, but set the `$childRestorePoint` variable as the `RestorePoint` parameter value and specify a different `VMName` parameter value. Save the result to the `$childSpec` variable.
13. Run the `Start-VBRADForestRestore` cmdlet. Specify the following parameters:

    - Set the `$restorePoint` variable as the `RestorePoint` parameter value.
    - Set the `@($rootSpec, $childSpec)` array as the `DomainRestoreSpec` parameter value. The array must contain exactly one specification for the root domain.
    - Provide the `RunAsync` parameter.
    - Specify the `Reason` parameter.

    Save the result to the `$restore` variable to use it with other cmdlets.

:::

::: example
### Example 2. Microsoft Active Directory Forest Restore to Microsoft Hyper-V

This example shows how to start a Microsoft Active Directory forest restore for a Microsoft Hyper-V environment. It restores two domain controllers — one from the root domain and one from a child domain.

```
$forest = Get-VBRADForest
$restorePoint = (Get-VBRADForestRestorePoint -ADForest $forest)[0]
$domains = Get-VBRADForestDomain -ADForest $forest
$server = Get-VBRServer -Name "hvhost01.company.local"
$credentials = Get-Credential
$rootRestorePoint = (Get-VBRADForestDomainRestorePoint -Domain $domains[0])[0]
$rootSpec = New-VBRHvADForestDomainRestoreSpec -RestorePoint $rootRestorePoint -Credentials $credentials -Server $server -Path "C:\VMs\Restore" -VMName "DC01-Restored"
$childRestorePoint = (Get-VBRADForestDomainRestorePoint -Domain $domains[1])[0]
$childSpec = New-VBRHvADForestDomainRestoreSpec -RestorePoint $childRestorePoint -Credentials $credentials -Server $server -Path "C:\VMs\Restore" -VMName "DC02-Restored"
$reIpRule = New-VBRADForestReIpRule -SourceIp 172.16.*.* -SourceMask 255.255.0.0 -TargetIp 172.17.*.* -TargetMask 255.255.0.0 -TargetGateway 172.17.0.1 -VlanTag 120
$restore = Start-VBRADForestRestore -RestorePoint $restorePoint -DomainRestoreSpec @($rootSpec, $childSpec) -ReIpRule $reIpRule -RunAsync -Reason "Disaster recovery"
```

Perform the following steps:

1. Run the [`Get-VBRADForest`](get-vbradforest.md) cmdlet. Save the result to the `$forest` variable.
2. Run the [`Get-VBRADForestRestorePoint`](get-vbradforestrestorepoint.md) cmdlet. Set the `$forest` variable as the `ADForest` parameter value. The cmdlet returns an array of forest restore points (points in time); this example saves the first one to the `$restorePoint` variable.
3. Run the [`Get-VBRADForestDomain`](get-vbradforestdomain.md) cmdlet. Set the `$forest` variable as the `ADForest` parameter value. Save the result to the `$domains` variable. The cmdlet returns all domains in the forest.
4. Run the [`Get-VBRServer`](get-vbrserver.md) cmdlet. Specify the `Name` parameter value. Save the result to the `$server` variable.
5. Run the [`Get-Credential`](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.security/get-credential?view=powershell-7.1) cmdlet. Save the result to the `$credentials` variable.
6. Run the [`Get-VBRADForestDomainRestorePoint`](get-vbradforestdomainrestorepoint.md) cmdlet. Set the root domain (the first element of the `$domains` array) as the `Domain` parameter value. Save the first restore point to the `$rootRestorePoint` variable.
7. Run the [`New-VBRHvADForestDomainRestoreSpec`](new-vbrhvadforestdomainrestorespec.md) cmdlet to create the specification for the root domain controller. Specify the following parameters:

   - Set the `$rootRestorePoint` variable as the `RestorePoint` parameter value.
   - Set the `$credentials` variable as the `Credentials` parameter value.
   - Set the `$server` variable as the `Server` parameter value.
   - Specify the `Path` parameter value.
   - Specify the `VMName` parameter value.

   Save the result to the `$rootSpec` variable.

8. Run the [`Get-VBRADForestDomainRestorePoint`](get-vbradforestdomainrestorepoint.md) cmdlet. Set a child domain (the second element of the `$domains` array) as the `Domain` parameter value. Save the first restore point to the `$childRestorePoint` variable.
9. Run the [`New-VBRHvADForestDomainRestoreSpec`](new-vbrhvadforestdomainrestorespec.md) cmdlet to create the specification for the child domain controller. Specify the same parameters as for the root domain controller, but set the `$childRestorePoint` variable as the `RestorePoint` parameter value and specify a different `VMName` parameter value. Save the result to the `$childSpec` variable.
10. Run the [`New-VBRADForestReIpRule`](new-vbradforestreiprule.md) cmdlet to create a re-IP rule. Specify the `SourceIp`, `SourceMask`, `TargetIp`, `TargetMask`, `TargetGateway`, and `VlanTag` parameter values. Save the result to the `$reIpRule` variable.
11. Run the `Start-VBRADForestRestore` cmdlet. Specify the following parameters:

    - Set the `$restorePoint` variable as the `RestorePoint` parameter value.
    - Set the `@($rootSpec, $childSpec)` array as the `DomainRestoreSpec` parameter value. The array must contain exactly one specification for the root domain.
    - Set the `$reIpRule` variable as the `ReIpRule` parameter value.
    - Provide the `RunAsync` parameter.
    - Specify the `Reason` parameter.

    Save the result to the `$restore` variable to use it with other cmdlets.

:::

## Related Commands

- [`Get-VBRADForest`](get-vbradforest.md)
- [`Get-VBRADForestRestorePoint`](get-vbradforestrestorepoint.md)
- [`Get-VBRADForestDomain`](get-vbradforestdomain.md)
- [`Get-VBRADForestDomainRestorePoint`](get-vbradforestdomainrestorepoint.md)
- [`Get-VBRServer`](get-vbrserver.md)
- [`Get-Credential`](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.security/get-credential?view=powershell-7.5)
- [`Find-VBRViResourcePool`](find-vbrviresourcepool.md)
- [`Find-VBRViDatastore`](find-vbrvidatastore.md)
- [`Find-VBRViEntity`](find-vbrvientity.md)
- [`New-VBRViADForestDomainRestoreSpec`](new-vbrviadforestdomainrestorespec.md)
- [`New-VBRHvADForestDomainRestoreSpec`](new-vbrhvadforestdomainrestorespec.md)
- [`New-VBRADForestReIpRule`](new-vbradforestreiprule.md)