Error 168 is either an API issue or the password. You ruled out the API by making sure you are now running the same fix pack level (first 3 numbers of 8.1.6).
That leaves the password, which is step 4 here: https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSEQVQ_8.1.0/srv.install/t_srv_prep_dbmgr-windows.html
OK so now I was able to get the database restored finally. However, now I am running into some further issues, and I'm wondering if it is partially related to the option used:
So I am using the recovery plan document that is usually generated by a script for us every day. In it, it tells me to run the following command for the restore:
"directory_path\DSMSERV" -k "instance_name" restore db todate=mm/dd/yyyy totime=hh:mm:ss source=dbb RESTOREKEYS=NO
My first question for this would be... If I tell it "RESTOREKEYS=YES" then which password would need to be used exactly?
Next, after I used the command above to restore the database, it then tells me to start the server using the command "start "instance_name" "dir_path\DSMSERV" -k "instance_name""
If I do that, I see several errors including:
ANR0110E An unexpected system date has been detected; the server is disabled
My second question is... Are these two topics sort of related? If not, then how do I enter the ACCEPT DATE command if I can't log in using the admin command line with the admin account I had been using all along prior to the cyberattack?