Guest Nobody Important Posted July 21, 2007 Posted July 21, 2007 I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing rate to 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot drive. I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and restored them on Server 2003? TIA
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted July 21, 2007 Posted July 21, 2007 Re: Server 2003 - Best Software To Make Drive Image? "Nobody Important" <nobody@myfakeemailserver.org> wrote in message news:sGnoi.962$RQ5.111@bignews8.bellsouth.net... > > I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a > custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing rate to > 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot drive. > > I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. > > We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL > > Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and restored > them on Server 2003? > > TIA > I use Acronis DriveImage (Server).
Guest WorkingHard Posted July 21, 2007 Posted July 21, 2007 Re: Server 2003 - Best Software To Make Drive Image? the best and cheapest, nothing to install runs even from CD, USB ... Build a CD with Bart PE or such to restore ... http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/news.htm "Nobody Important" <nobody@myfakeemailserver.org> wrote in message news:sGnoi.962$RQ5.111@bignews8.bellsouth.net... > > I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a > custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing rate to > 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot drive. > > I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. > > We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL > > Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and restored > them on Server 2003? > > TIA > > > > > >
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted July 21, 2007 Posted July 21, 2007 Re: Server 2003 - Best Software To Make Drive Image? I know the Bart PE boot CD very well. Cheapest - certainly: it's free. Best - this is highly subjective. If the OP is happy with a tool that lets him create a carbon copy of an installation - fine. If he requires a tool that lets him create an image file, or several image files (e.g. one every month), with a few bells and whistles added, then a commercial imaging tool would probably be a better choice. The OP should reword his Subject line. There is no "best" product - it all depends on his requirements and his budget. "WorkingHard" <WorkingHard@microsoftdiscussions.com> wrote in message news:%23tNJe75yHHA.1484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > the best and cheapest, nothing to install runs even from CD, USB ... > > Build a CD with Bart PE or such to restore ... > > http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/news.htm > > > > "Nobody Important" <nobody@myfakeemailserver.org> wrote in message > news:sGnoi.962$RQ5.111@bignews8.bellsouth.net... >> >> I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a >> custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing rate >> to 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot drive. >> >> I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. >> >> We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL >> >> Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and >> restored them on Server 2003? >> >> TIA >> >> >> >> >> >> > >
Guest WorkingHard Posted July 21, 2007 Posted July 21, 2007 Re: Server 2003 - Best Software To Make Drive Image? True. Best is non existent. But this is not about BartPe or another Bootable OS. It's about the imaging. Snapshot.exe is fully scripatable and require nothing to be installed on the system (2 very important things in my opinion), just run the exe from anywhere. The need for NIC & disk controller drivers is universal with any product zhen building a bootable recovery disk to restore the image. "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com> wrote in message news:eKcW8P6yHHA.1212@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >I know the Bart PE boot CD very well. Cheapest - certainly: > it's free. Best - this is highly subjective. If the OP is happy with > a tool that lets him create a carbon copy of an installation - > fine. If he requires a tool that lets him create an image file, > or several image files (e.g. one every month), with a few bells > and whistles added, then a commercial imaging tool would > probably be a better choice. > > The OP should reword his Subject line. There is no "best" > product - it all depends on his requirements and his budget. > > > "WorkingHard" <WorkingHard@microsoftdiscussions.com> wrote in message > news:%23tNJe75yHHA.1484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >> the best and cheapest, nothing to install runs even from CD, USB ... >> >> Build a CD with Bart PE or such to restore ... >> >> http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/news.htm >> >> >> >> "Nobody Important" <nobody@myfakeemailserver.org> wrote in message >> news:sGnoi.962$RQ5.111@bignews8.bellsouth.net... >>> >>> I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a >>> custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing rate >>> to 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot drive. >>> >>> I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. >>> >>> We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL >>> >>> Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and >>> restored them on Server 2003? >>> >>> TIA >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> > >
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted July 21, 2007 Posted July 21, 2007 Re: Server 2003 - Best Software To Make Drive Image? I misunderstood you - I thought you were recommending Bart as a pseudo-imaging tool. Regardless which product the OP uses, he should go through a full test recovery process. This applies in particular to Snapshot. I used to use the product extensively until I had some spectacular failures. I then realised why its cost is so low. "WorkingHard" <WorkingHard@microsoftdiscussions.com> wrote in message news:ODJ2En6yHHA.988@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > True. Best is non existent. But this is not about BartPe or another > Bootable OS. It's about the imaging. Snapshot.exe is fully scripatable and > require nothing to be installed on the system (2 very important things in > my opinion), just run the exe from anywhere. The need for NIC & disk > controller drivers is universal with any product zhen building a bootable > recovery disk to restore the image. > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com> wrote in message > news:eKcW8P6yHHA.1212@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >>I know the Bart PE boot CD very well. Cheapest - certainly: >> it's free. Best - this is highly subjective. If the OP is happy with >> a tool that lets him create a carbon copy of an installation - >> fine. If he requires a tool that lets him create an image file, >> or several image files (e.g. one every month), with a few bells >> and whistles added, then a commercial imaging tool would >> probably be a better choice. >> >> The OP should reword his Subject line. There is no "best" >> product - it all depends on his requirements and his budget. >> >> >> "WorkingHard" <WorkingHard@microsoftdiscussions.com> wrote in message >> news:%23tNJe75yHHA.1484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >>> the best and cheapest, nothing to install runs even from CD, USB ... >>> >>> Build a CD with Bart PE or such to restore ... >>> >>> http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/news.htm >>> >>> >>> >>> "Nobody Important" <nobody@myfakeemailserver.org> wrote in message >>> news:sGnoi.962$RQ5.111@bignews8.bellsouth.net... >>>> >>>> I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a >>>> custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing rate >>>> to 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot drive. >>>> >>>> I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. >>>> >>>> We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL >>>> >>>> Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and >>>> restored them on Server 2003? >>>> >>>> TIA >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> >> > >
Guest WorkingHard Posted July 21, 2007 Posted July 21, 2007 Re: Server 2003 - Best Software To Make Drive Image? I'll agree they will happen, ... with all products. That's why testing restores is so important and sadly so few people really commit to doing that, what ever the products that fits the need, budget and environmet. Take care Cheers "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com> wrote in message news:em3OM26yHHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >I misunderstood you - I thought you were recommending > Bart as a pseudo-imaging tool. > > Regardless which product the OP uses, he should go > through a full test recovery process. This applies in particular > to Snapshot. I used to use the product extensively until > I had some spectacular failures. I then realised why its > cost is so low. > > > "WorkingHard" <WorkingHard@microsoftdiscussions.com> wrote in message > news:ODJ2En6yHHA.988@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >> True. Best is non existent. But this is not about BartPe or another >> Bootable OS. It's about the imaging. Snapshot.exe is fully scripatable >> and require nothing to be installed on the system (2 very important >> things in my opinion), just run the exe from anywhere. The need for NIC & >> disk controller drivers is universal with any product zhen building a >> bootable recovery disk to restore the image. >> >> >> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com> wrote in message >> news:eKcW8P6yHHA.1212@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >>>I know the Bart PE boot CD very well. Cheapest - certainly: >>> it's free. Best - this is highly subjective. If the OP is happy with >>> a tool that lets him create a carbon copy of an installation - >>> fine. If he requires a tool that lets him create an image file, >>> or several image files (e.g. one every month), with a few bells >>> and whistles added, then a commercial imaging tool would >>> probably be a better choice. >>> >>> The OP should reword his Subject line. There is no "best" >>> product - it all depends on his requirements and his budget. >>> >>> >>> "WorkingHard" <WorkingHard@microsoftdiscussions.com> wrote in message >>> news:%23tNJe75yHHA.1484@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >>>> the best and cheapest, nothing to install runs even from CD, USB ... >>>> >>>> Build a CD with Bart PE or such to restore ... >>>> >>>> http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/news.htm >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> "Nobody Important" <nobody@myfakeemailserver.org> wrote in message >>>> news:sGnoi.962$RQ5.111@bignews8.bellsouth.net... >>>>> >>>>> I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a >>>>> custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing >>>>> rate to 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot >>>>> drive. >>>>> >>>>> I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. >>>>> >>>>> We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL >>>>> >>>>> Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and >>>>> restored them on Server 2003? >>>>> >>>>> TIA >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> >> > >
Guest Coraleigh Miller Posted July 21, 2007 Posted July 21, 2007 Re: Server 2003 - Best Software To Make Drive Image? Appologies.. I meant Symantec Ghost Solution Suite 2.0 (which supports server 2003) http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/products/overview.jsp?pcid=2247&pvid=865_1 However Pegasus's suggestions are great, and I do quite like the Acronis sofware as well... http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/ATISWin/ Coraleigh "Nobody Important" <nobody@myfakeemailserver.org> wrote in message news:sGnoi.962$RQ5.111@bignews8.bellsouth.net... > > I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a > custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing rate to > 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot drive. > > I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. > > We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL > > Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and restored > them on Server 2003? > > TIA > > > > > >
Guest Kaddie Posted July 24, 2007 Posted July 24, 2007 RE: Server 2003 - Best Software To Make Drive Image? Just read this post. Since my boss is also looking at software like this how do these work with Win2003 servers that are the Domain controllers housing the Active Directory structure. Once the server is rebuilt do we have to restore AD structure back onto server. I'm thinking of worse case senario when a server completely dies. thanks -- Kath "Nobody Important" wrote: > > I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a > custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing rate to > 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot drive. > > I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. > > We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL > > Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and restored > them on Server 2003? > > TIA > > > > > > >
Guest Coraleigh Miller Posted July 24, 2007 Posted July 24, 2007 Re: Server 2003 - Best Software To Make Drive Image? Hi Kaddie, Basically with imaging backup software (such as Acronis), a snapshot is taken of your server, then when you need to restore your image backup, everything is exactly the way it was (including your DC structure) at the time the image was taken. Provided that your image is up to date, no file level restoration or reconfiguration would be needed. Check out Acronis's overview for more info... http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/ATISWin/ They also have an additional option called Acronis Universal Restore which allows you to restore your image to a server with different hardware than the server it was imaged off of. Which would help if your server hardware fails and your new server hardware is different. http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/ATISWin/universal-restore.html Its important to note, with image software restorations, that you should not restore an image onto a server which exists at the same time on the same network as the originally imaged server, without using Microsofts sysprep utility to give it a new SID and prevent other domain conflicts. Coraleigh Miller "Kaddie" <kathied@tweed.nsw.gov.au(donotspam)> wrote in message news:2DCAE45B-8D16-44A9-B9A6-C106143A2516@microsoft.com... > Just read this post. Since my boss is also looking at software like this > how > do these work with Win2003 servers that are the Domain controllers housing > the Active Directory structure. Once the server is rebuilt do we have to > restore AD structure back onto server. I'm thinking of worse case senario > when a server completely dies. > thanks > -- > Kath > > > "Nobody Important" wrote: > >> >> I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a >> custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing rate >> to >> 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot drive. >> >> I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. >> >> We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL >> >> Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and >> restored >> them on Server 2003? >> >> TIA >> >> >> >> >> >> >>
Guest Kaddie Posted July 24, 2007 Posted July 24, 2007 RE: Server 2003 - Best Software To Make Drive Image? thanks heaps thats been the best explanation Ive seen in years. I will pass this onto my boss. -- Kath "Nobody Important" wrote: > > I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a > custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing rate to > 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot drive. > > I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. > > We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL > > Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and restored > them on Server 2003? > > TIA > > > > > > >
Guest WorkingHard Posted July 24, 2007 Posted July 24, 2007 Re: Server 2003 - Best Software To Make Drive Image? Please start reading about USN rollback and imaging of DC's this is not support afik. AD restore mode and playing with the registry setting forcing an authoritive restore from the DC you restired from the image can fix this but I havn't got the details at hand, but rememer this is not supported. Cheers "Kaddie" <kathied@tweed.nsw.gov.au(donotspam)> wrote in message news:2DCAE45B-8D16-44A9-B9A6-C106143A2516@microsoft.com... > Just read this post. Since my boss is also looking at software like this > how > do these work with Win2003 servers that are the Domain controllers housing > the Active Directory structure. Once the server is rebuilt do we have to > restore AD structure back onto server. I'm thinking of worse case senario > when a server completely dies. > thanks > -- > Kath > > > "Nobody Important" wrote: > >> >> I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a >> custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing rate >> to >> 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot drive. >> >> I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. >> >> We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL >> >> Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and >> restored >> them on Server 2003? >> >> TIA >> >> >> >> >> >> >>
Guest Coraleigh Miller Posted July 24, 2007 Posted July 24, 2007 Re: Server 2003 - Best Software To Make Drive Image? Hi Kath, WorkingHard has brought up some good info. Here is a doc from Microsoft which goes into more detail about the USN rollback possible issues and recovery... http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875495 Coraleigh "WorkingHard" <WorkingHard@microsoftdiscussions.com> wrote in message news:Oz8mT6izHHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > Please start reading about USN rollback and imaging of DC's this is not > support afik. AD restore mode and playing with the registry setting > forcing an authoritive restore from the DC you restired from the image can > fix this but I havn't got the details at hand, but rememer this is not > supported. > > Cheers > "Kaddie" <kathied@tweed.nsw.gov.au(donotspam)> wrote in message > news:2DCAE45B-8D16-44A9-B9A6-C106143A2516@microsoft.com... >> Just read this post. Since my boss is also looking at software like this >> how >> do these work with Win2003 servers that are the Domain controllers >> housing >> the Active Directory structure. Once the server is rebuilt do we have to >> restore AD structure back onto server. I'm thinking of worse case >> senario >> when a server completely dies. >> thanks >> -- >> Kath >> >> >> "Nobody Important" wrote: >> >>> >>> I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a >>> custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing rate >>> to >>> 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot drive. >>> >>> I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. >>> >>> We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL >>> >>> Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and >>> restored >>> them on Server 2003? >>> >>> TIA >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> > >
Guest Coraleigh Miller Posted July 25, 2007 Posted July 25, 2007 Re: Server 2003 - Best Software To Make Drive Image? A great writeup from another support site with step by step instructions on successfully preventing the USN rollback issue when imaging a DC in a multi-DC environment... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two methods: One: Do a daily scheduled ntbackup of system state to a data disk - if you ever need to restore an image of a DC, reboot in non-authorative domain controller restore mode (F8 at startup) and restore the latest NTbackup system state. DC will think it's non-auth restored, and at reboot will request DC information from the other DC's. Just *never ever* run the restored DC in normal mode before doing this, or you are in USN rollback hell. Method two: Only if your 2003 DC's are running SP1 - you can "fool" a DC in thinking it's non-authoratively restored without actually running ntbackup - again, if you restored a DC and started it normally, you are scr*w*d. To restore a previous image when USN rollback has not occurred 1.Using the previous , start the domain controller in Directory Services Restore mode. 2.In a registry editor, if the entry DSA Previous Restore Count under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Parameters is visible, make a note of the value. If the entry is not visible, assume a value of 0. Do not add the entry. 3.Add the registry entry Database restored from backup under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Parameters Data type: REG_DWORD Value=1 This setting creates a valid system state backup and immediately restores the backup. 4.Restart the domain controller normally. 5.In the registry, check to be sure that the value in DSA Previous Restore Count is equal to its previous value plus 1. 6.In the Directory Service event log, check to see that event ID 1109 appears. This event confirms that the .vhd file has been restored and the invocation ID has been changed. Event ID 1109 places the following information in the log: Active Directory has been restored from backup media, or has been configured to host an application partition. The invocationID attribute for this directory server has been changed. The highest update sequence number at the time the backup was created is a%n %nInvocationID attribute (old value):%n%1 %nInvocationID attribute (new value):%n%2 %nUpdate sequence number:%n%3 %n %nThe invocationID is changed when a directory server is restored from backup media or is configured to host a writeable application directory partition. This works for all imaging based products - the actual text above is from MS, they had to come up with something that works in virtual PC environments, because DC's get "paused" for more than 12 hours in these situations - works for physical as well! http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?p=552065#post552065 Coraleigh "Coraleigh Miller" <CoraleighMiller@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:uIpZBPjzHHA.5160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > Hi Kath, > > WorkingHard has brought up some good info. Here is a doc from Microsoft > which goes into more detail about the USN rollback possible issues and > recovery... http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875495 > > Coraleigh > > "WorkingHard" <WorkingHard@microsoftdiscussions.com> wrote in message > news:Oz8mT6izHHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> Please start reading about USN rollback and imaging of DC's this is not >> support afik. AD restore mode and playing with the registry setting >> forcing an authoritive restore from the DC you restired from the image >> can fix this but I havn't got the details at hand, but rememer this is >> not supported. >> >> Cheers >> "Kaddie" <kathied@tweed.nsw.gov.au(donotspam)> wrote in message >> news:2DCAE45B-8D16-44A9-B9A6-C106143A2516@microsoft.com... >>> Just read this post. Since my boss is also looking at software like >>> this how >>> do these work with Win2003 servers that are the Domain controllers >>> housing >>> the Active Directory structure. Once the server is rebuilt do we have >>> to >>> restore AD structure back onto server. I'm thinking of worse case >>> senario >>> when a server completely dies. >>> thanks >>> -- >>> Kath >>> >>> >>> "Nobody Important" wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> I am supporting someone who just installed Sever 2003 and is running a >>>> custom program that took quite a number of hours at a high billing rate >>>> to >>>> 'tweak' so the user wants an image done of the server's boot drive. >>>> >>>> I looked at Norton Ghost and it does not support Server 2003. >>>> >>>> We want to make an image file that will store on DVD DL >>>> >>>> Can anyone recommend a program that you have made image files and >>>> restored >>>> them on Server 2003? >>>> >>>> TIA >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >> >> > >
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