server 2003 system state backup/restore

[spirovski.b]

n00bius, other board members. Here are the results of my test:
The MS instructions are quite correct and works.
http://technet2.microsoft.com/window....mspx?mfr=true

I used a VMware to create two servers, one with 1 cpu and scsi virtual drive, another with 2 cpu's, and ide virtual drive. Created the same drive letter for the system disk (C) and promoted the first to a DC, then moved the system state and restored to the second one. I had the both machines with same hostname and same networking parameters for sake of minimal problems.

The restore worked, and i had a functional AD on the second machine.

NOTE: Didn't have time to test, but I suspect that the second machine will have to be at the same patchlevel for this to work in production though.

Hope this helps

[n00bius]

awesome, did they have the same SSIDs?

[here4real]

If I have a system state backup AND a complete file by file backup could I restore a server by the following process?

1) Install Windoes from a CD.

2) Restore system state.

3) Restore all files.

[CybertecOne]

ShadowProtect is an awesome product;

You need the software, and a rotation of USB HDD's for the perfect solution.

The product images the server both ad hoc, scheduled and can be configured for snapshots which are later consolidated into a full backup.

The restore process allows for simple reimage of the server, access to the backup image (virtual mount) and Hardware Independant Restore. This means you can backup a server, and then restore the server to completely different hardware. There are technotes on the website for such things

http://www.storagecraft.com/shadow_protect_server.php

CTO