Effective full backup strategy - Aftermath disaster recovery comments

[Atlas]

I've just come out from an almost disaster recovery after a two days battle.

The scenario is a Win2000 smallbiz server (+Exchange 2000 + SQL Server
2000).

Using win2000 built in backup I've constantly used the strategy of a full
weekly backup (All the systemroot volume + Exchange Server data + system
state) a daily users data backup a daily full database backup + logs.

Nevertheless, a few days ago the systemroot HD started making funny noises,
so before a total crash, I've decided to buy a new HD and restore everything
to it.

1) My first big surprise was that I had to make a basic setup of a new fresh
install to gain access to a full restore with system state active dirs etc.
That's really stupid. I can't beleive MS didn't think about a smarter way to
fully restore without setuping again. Say from a bootable CD ala Acronis or
Ghost.

2) Apart from that bothering issue to setup again and then fully restore
everything, my system once restored wasn't working like before!

2.1) The Exchange server's MTA service wouldn't run, no mtacheck could fix
it and after losing time reading knowledgebase articles I ended restoring
the BOOTENV directory to reset MTA (a few hours waste).

2.2) The Sql Server wouldn' work properly, I had to uninstall it, reinstall
it and restore the databases one by one (hours).

All this brings to the following question:

A) Is there an effective way to fully backup everything using built in
utilities (ntbackup, scripts) in a way that it will work immediately after
restore? Any scripts to automate the tasks?

B) Is there any utility that can boot from CD and restore the backup without
setuping again?

C) OTher affordable utilities (Automated)???


Bye

 

[Leoanrd Gore]

Yes, I've met a similar problem with the Microsoft
provided backup software. It is pathetic, being able to
do a full restore is fundamental to any reasonable backup
software.

Frankly I've given up on making total backups (Thank's in
the main to Microsoft I now have a 5Gbyte system and I
don't have a DVD burner). I back up all my data files
including my own programs, Outlook files etc. and then, if
the worst comes to the worst, I do a complete rebuild. It
takes more than a day (about 12 hours) but at least I get
a clean system. You do need to be sure your have copied
everything though, it is easy to overlook something (e.g.
that huge file you downloaded from an Internet site that
you can't remember).

 

[Jim Self]

Hi,

Why not consider using a spare drive as a removable? You mentioned
Ghost, a great HD imaging program. Why not clone your active drive, then
unplug it, your things will not be very vulnerable to loss.

Every week or so when your main drive is feeling good, do a clone of it
to the removable. If your main drive ever throws a rod or something all
you'll need to do is switch the jumper from slave to master and you're
good to go, no reinstalling of anything. Your backup drive/s aren't
likely to get infected with anything not being connected most of the
time too.

Then there's a good chance what you're running isn't so easily backed
up, but a clone is a pretty easy out if it'll work in your situation. A
couple of clicks to get it going, then go play elsewhere while it's
doing its thing.

---==X={}=X==---


Jim Self
AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
http://avanimation.avsupport.com

Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm

 

[Gerry Voras]

I personally never rely on MSBackup for anything more than the backup of
specific files. I like Ghost, but unfortunately in most cases the machine
ahs to be brought completely down.

Thus, my choices are either a RAID solution or Veritas.

 

[Atlas]

Frankly I've given up on making total backups (Thank's in

the main to Microsoft I now have a 5Gbyte system and I
don't have a DVD burner). I back up all my data files
including my own programs, Outlook files etc. and then, if
the worst comes to the worst, I do a complete rebuild. It
takes more than a day (about 12 hours) but at least I get
a clean system.

Well it took 2 days to set the previous state, and luckly I could rescue
everything.
You simply can't think to reinstall a fresh system. It takes months to tune,
install & remove apps, find the right settings for every app.
maybe the best way is making an offline copy of the entire disk, inclusing
boot sectro, etc, but this brings to a few hours downtime, and in a
production environment isn't the best.
I will have a go with acronis server and see what happens, it may be
scriptable and automatable and may pass the online backup without screwing
up the system.

 

[Atlas]

Thus, my choices are either a RAID solution or Veritas.

Veritas shows high end and comples products. Do you know if they sell a low
end complete solution? Waht do you personally use, and did you restore
succesfully?

Boot sector also ?

 

[Gerry Voras]

Extremely high end (and useless for most of my clients, BTW) No low-end
solution AFAIK.