How to use ASR for the Domain Controller with RIS

[Guest]

Hi All,

"What's New in Storage Management" for Windows 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/overview/technologies/storage.mspx contains paragraph:

"Data Protection - Automated System Recovery

Automated System Recovery (ASR) enables bare metal restore of servers and
consistent data recovery of servers, including "system state" and hardware
configuration information. Using recovery mode, ASR ensures a server can be
returned to its original state if a serious failure occurs.

The backup application included with Windows can be easily configured to use
ASR for system restores. Combined with Remote Installation Services (RIS),
ASR provides an effective way to automate complete system restores across the
network without user intervention."

Could somebody please post a link or name the White paper or step-by-step
walk-through on how to implement ASR for the DC or any other server with RIS?

Thanks a lot!
Alex

 

[Ace Fekay [MVP]]

In

Hi All,

"What's New in Storage Management" for Windows 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/overview/technologies/storage.mspx
contains paragraph:

"Data Protection - Automated System Recovery

Automated System Recovery (ASR) enables bare metal restore of servers
and
consistent data recovery of servers, including "system state" and
hardware
configuration information. Using recovery mode, ASR ensures a server
can be
returned to its original state if a serious failure occurs.

The backup application included with Windows can be easily configured
to use
ASR for system restores. Combined with Remote Installation Services
(RIS),
ASR provides an effective way to automate complete system restores
across the
network without user intervention."

Could somebody please post a link or name the White paper or
step-by-step
walk-through on how to implement ASR for the DC or any other server
with RIS?

Thanks a lot!
Alex

I haven't tried it this way to restore a DC, but hope these links I found
thru a simple Google search for "ASR and RIS" help you out. They look pretty
informative.

ntbackup Bare Metal Restoration If your computer does not have a floppy disk
drive you can utilize a Remote Installation Services (RIS) server to perform
the ASR restore. RIS uses Pre-boot ...
www.backupassist.com/education/bareMetalASR.html

[PDF] Bare Metal Restoration File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as
HTML
Remote Installation Services (RIS) server to perform the ASR.
restore. RIS uses Pre-boot execution Environment (PXE) technology ...
www.backupassist.com/downloads/BareMetalASR.pdf

How to set up a bare metal restore with Windows ASR If you
choose not to use ASR, you can create a floppy using the Remote Installation
Services (RIS) server to perform the restore over a TCP/IP network ...
http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/tip/1,289483,sid5_gci1026247,00.html


How ASR Works ASR significantly automates this process. In
addition to automating the restore of a single system, ASR can be used with
Remote Installation Services (RIS) ...
http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/Library/7b4f0436-cc90-4b52-b6ab-064f9db8d2721033.mspx


I hope they help.


--
Ace

This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties or guarantees and
confers no rights.

Having difficulty reading or finding responses to your post?
Instead of the website you're using, I suggest to use OEx (Outlook
Express or any other newsreader), and configure a news account, pointing to
news.microsoft.com. This is a direct link to the Microsoft Public
Newsgroups. It is FREE and requires NO ISP's Usenet account. OEx allows you
to easily find, track threads, cross-post, sort by date, poster's name,
watched threads or subject.

It's easy:
How to Configure OEx for Internet News
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=171164

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2003 & 2000, MCSA 2003 & 2000, MCSE+I, MCT, MVP
Microsoft MVP - Directory Services
Microsoft Certified Trainer

Infinite Diversities in Infinite Combinations
Assimilation Imminent. Resistance is Futile
"Very funny Scotty. Now, beam down my clothes."

The only thing in life is change. Anything more is a blackhole
consuming unnecessary energy. - [Me]

 

[Guest]

Hi Ace!

Thank you for the reply. Unfortunately, the results of the Google do not
contain information about the use of ASR with RIS. It's just an ASR info.

Fom my experience, I always prefer the Microsoft documentation over the
re-prints.

I already have a local copy of the KB824184 "How to set up Automated System
Recovery on a Windows Server 2003-based computer that is running Remote
Installation Services" which is so far the closest material to what I want.
There are three problem with that KB though.

1. KB824184 is removed from the official Microsoft Support site.
2. There are no any other officially available documents instead.
3. KB824184 (I have a local copy if this KB) contains awkward steps in the
most important "Installing the new build image on the RIS server" section.

So what I need is Microsoft easy-to-follow walk through on how restore the
Domain Controller using ASR which is deployed using RIS.

Thank you for your help,
Alex

In

Hi All,

"What's New in Storage Management" for Windows 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/overview/technologies/storage.mspx
contains paragraph:

"Data Protection - Automated System Recovery

Automated System Recovery (ASR) enables bare metal restore of servers
and
consistent data recovery of servers, including "system state" and
hardware
configuration information. Using recovery mode, ASR ensures a server
can be
returned to its original state if a serious failure occurs.

The backup application included with Windows can be easily configured
to use
ASR for system restores. Combined with Remote Installation Services
(RIS),
ASR provides an effective way to automate complete system restores
across the
network without user intervention."

Could somebody please post a link or name the White paper or
step-by-step
walk-through on how to implement ASR for the DC or any other server
with RIS?

Thanks a lot!
Alex

I haven't tried it this way to restore a DC, but hope these links I found
thru a simple Google search for "ASR and RIS" help you out. They look pretty
informative.

ntbackup Bare Metal Restoration If your computer does not have a floppy disk
drive you can utilize a Remote Installation Services (RIS) server to perform
the ASR restore. RIS uses Pre-boot ...
www.backupassist.com/education/bareMetalASR.html

[PDF] Bare Metal Restoration File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as
HTML
Remote Installation Services (RIS) server to perform the ASR.
restore. RIS uses Pre-boot execution Environment (PXE) technology ...
www.backupassist.com/downloads/BareMetalASR.pdf

How to set up a bare metal restore with Windows ASR If you
choose not to use ASR, you can create a floppy using the Remote Installation
Services (RIS) server to perform the restore over a TCP/IP network ...
http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/tip/1,289483,sid5_gci1026247,00.html


How ASR Works ASR significantly automates this process. In
addition to automating the restore of a single system, ASR can be used with
Remote Installation Services (RIS) ...
http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/Library/7b4f0436-cc90-4b52-b6ab-064f9db8d2721033.mspx


I hope they help.


--
Ace

This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties or guarantees and
confers no rights.

Having difficulty reading or finding responses to your post?
Instead of the website you're using, I suggest to use OEx (Outlook
Express or any other newsreader), and configure a news account, pointing to
news.microsoft.com. This is a direct link to the Microsoft Public
Newsgroups. It is FREE and requires NO ISP's Usenet account. OEx allows you
to easily find, track threads, cross-post, sort by date, poster's name,
watched threads or subject.

It's easy:
How to Configure OEx for Internet News
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=171164

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2003 & 2000, MCSA 2003 & 2000, MCSE+I, MCT, MVP
Microsoft MVP - Directory Services
Microsoft Certified Trainer

Infinite Diversities in Infinite Combinations
Assimilation Imminent. Resistance is Futile
"Very funny Scotty. Now, beam down my clothes."

The only thing in life is change. Anything more is a blackhole
consuming unnecessary energy. - [Me]

 

[Ace Fekay [MVP]]

In

Hi Ace!

Thank you for the reply. Unfortunately, the results of the Google do
not contain information about the use of ASR with RIS. It's just an
ASR info.

Fom my experience, I always prefer the Microsoft documentation over
the re-prints.

I already have a local copy of the KB824184 "How to set up Automated
System Recovery on a Windows Server 2003-based computer that is
running Remote Installation Services" which is so far the closest
material to what I want. There are three problem with that KB though.

1. KB824184 is removed from the official Microsoft Support site.
2. There are no any other officially available documents instead.
3. KB824184 (I have a local copy if this KB) contains awkward steps
in the most important "Installing the new build image on the RIS
server" section.

So what I need is Microsoft easy-to-follow walk through on how
restore the Domain Controller using ASR which is deployed using RIS.

Thank you for your help,
Alex

There's not much I can do about the removed articles, and agree sometimes
the Microsoft version has better step throughs, but not always. IMO, I
thought this article had a nice step through. Did you peruse the articles I
posted?
http://www.backupassist.com/education/bareMetalASR.html

Ace

 

[Guest]

Hi Ace!

Thanks for the advice, but unfortunately, the proposed article does not
contain the integration of the ASR into RIS, which actually was the scope of
our issue. That article said, basically: here is RIS; here is ASR; enjoy! It
does not explain how to let the failed DC to retrieve its ASR from the store


There is quick and dirty workaround to resolve the issue:
1. Build RIS on other server which stores the ASR data sets. As a part of
the RIS, there should be a DHCP server installed on the same member server.
2. Create an ASR data set and place it on that server.
3. Generate PBX floppy disk.
4. In case of the disaster, start bare-bone stand alone server
BAREBONESERVER with the PBX floppy disk inserted and confirm on the DHCP
server that BAREBONESERVER (the server which is being restored) obtained the
valid IP address.
5. Remove the PBX floppy disk.
6. Reboot BAREBONESERVER with the Windows Server 2003 installation disk
inserted.
7. When the installation starts don’t miss the time when press F2.
8. Insert the ASR floppy disk into the BAREBONESERVER.
9. After being prompted for the ASR data set location, use \\x.x.x.x\ASRshare
where x.x.x.x is the IP Address of the DHCP server.
10. Enjoy semi-automated system recovery

Best wishes,
Alex

 

[Ace Fekay [MVP]]

In

Hi Ace!

Thanks for the advice, but unfortunately, the proposed article does
not contain the integration of the ASR into RIS, which actually was
the scope of our issue. That article said, basically: here is RIS;
here is ASR; enjoy! It does not explain how to let the failed DC to
retrieve its ASR from the store

There is quick and dirty workaround to resolve the issue:
1. Build RIS on other server which stores the ASR data sets. As a
part of the RIS, there should be a DHCP server installed on the same
member server.
2. Create an ASR data set and place it on that server.
3. Generate PBX floppy disk.
4. In case of the disaster, start bare-bone stand alone server
BAREBONESERVER with the PBX floppy disk inserted and confirm on the
DHCP server that BAREBONESERVER (the server which is being restored)
obtained the valid IP address.
5. Remove the PBX floppy disk.
6. Reboot BAREBONESERVER with the Windows Server 2003 installation
disk inserted.
7. When the installation starts don't miss the time when press F2.
8. Insert the ASR floppy disk into the BAREBONESERVER.
9. After being prompted for the ASR data set location, use
\\x.x.x.x\ASRshare where x.x.x.x is the IP Address of the DHCP server.
10. Enjoy semi-automated system recovery

Best wishes,
Alex

I apologize for not being helpful in your quest. But I am happy that you
found a workaround. Interesting way of integrating it!

Thanks for the update!

Ace