Backup for a Windows 2000 Server Domain Controller

[Guest]

I did not see any categories for either "Disaster Recovery" or "Backups" so I
am posting here.

I have a Windows 2000 Domain Controller (actually 2) and would like to know
the best/easiest way to back up these servers so in the the event of a
hardware failure I would like to be able to restore it to new/replacement
different hardware?

I have read KB's about backing up system but they are usually very general
and sometimes miss steps for a successful complete restore.

I need how to backup and how to restore clearly and easy

Thanks

 

[Oli Restorick [MVP]]

Hi

Having two domain controllers is essential, so the fact that you have two is
good.

I notice that you talk of server failure as being the risk you want to
mitigate. Personally, my approach would be to rebuild the server from CDs
(of course, applying service packs and security hotfixes) and then run
through the same steps you would run through when bringing a new domain
controller into the domain.

The complexity comes if you happen to be running other services or
applications (e.g. file sharing, Exchange, etc) on the server. In an ideal
world, a domain controller should be dedicated to that task (with the
addition of services such as DNS and perhaps DHCP or WINS). In this
instance, I'd really recommend bringing the rebuilt server back into the
domain as if it was a new DC.

That's not to say that you shouldn't rehearse a restore from backups -- you
should. I agree with you that the restore process is not what it should be.
Windows Server 2003 comes *so* close to offering what I want, which is a
"restore domain from backup" facility. It allows you to bring a new DC
online from a backup, but dcpromo checks for other existing DCs and if it
finds none, will not proceed. So, it's only really useful for bringing a
branch office online, not for rebuilding a domain from scratch from backups.

What I would recommend considering is restoring to a virtualised machine
(using VMware or Microsoft Virtual PC). That way, regardless of what
hardware you have available in the event of a disaster, the scenario you
tested with should match what you actually have available in the event of a
disaster.

Hope this helps

Oli