Confused about ASR process

[Guest Guy Kerr]

I feel stupid asking this question since I've found no discussions about this

and feel that I must be missing something.

 

We're doing an office move and I want to create up-to-date ASR's for each of

my servers (all Server 2003). I used Windows Backup and the wizard to

generate the ASR. It instructs me to insert the floppy but in no time the

floppy is full and I'm asked to insert another. The backup progress

indicates that I've got THOUSANDS more files (depends on which server) to

backup and based on that screen I'd have to be swapping out floppies all day.

 

 

Am I doing something wrong here? I expected that the process would simply

copy the critical ASR files to the floppy and provide me the option to use

another backup medium for the other system files needed to restore the server

rather than assuming I want to use floppies for the entire process.

 

Thanks in advance

 

Guy

[Guest wideye]

Re: Confused about ASR process

 

On Sep 19, 12:04 pm, Guy Kerr <GuyK...@discussions.microsoft.com>

wrote:

> I feel stupid asking this question since I've found no discussions about this

> and feel that I must be missing something.

>

> We're doing an office move and I want to create up-to-date ASR's for each of

> my servers (all Server 2003). I used Windows Backup and the wizard to

> generate the ASR. It instructs me to insert the floppy but in no time the

> floppy is full and I'm asked to insert another. The backup progress

> indicates that I've got THOUSANDS more files (depends on which server) to

> backup and based on that screen I'd have to be swapping out floppies all day.

>

> Am I doing something wrong here? I expected that the process would simply

> copy the critical ASR files to the floppy and provide me the option to use

> another backup medium for the other system files needed to restore the server

> rather than assuming I want to use floppies for the entire process.

>

> Thanks in advance

>

> Guy

 

It was my understand that the ASR floppy basically acts as a boot disk

so you can mount your backup data. It should not be trying to copy

your actual data onto the floppy as the ASR still uses your standard

backup media (i.e. Tape or NAS).

 

Hope that helps...

[Guest Guy Kerr]

Re: Confused about ASR process

 

Based on my research that's what I thought too but I tried on two separate

servers and saw the same thing. Again, I'm sure I'm missing something.

 

Thanks for your feedback.

 

Guy

 

"wideye" wrote:

> On Sep 19, 12:04 pm, Guy Kerr <GuyK...@discussions.microsoft.com>

> wrote:

> > I feel stupid asking this question since I've found no discussions about this

> > and feel that I must be missing something.

> >

> > We're doing an office move and I want to create up-to-date ASR's for each of

> > my servers (all Server 2003). I used Windows Backup and the wizard to

> > generate the ASR. It instructs me to insert the floppy but in no time the

> > floppy is full and I'm asked to insert another. The backup progress

> > indicates that I've got THOUSANDS more files (depends on which server) to

> > backup and based on that screen I'd have to be swapping out floppies all day.

> >

> > Am I doing something wrong here? I expected that the process would simply

> > copy the critical ASR files to the floppy and provide me the option to use

> > another backup medium for the other system files needed to restore the server

> > rather than assuming I want to use floppies for the entire process.

> >

> > Thanks in advance

> >

> > Guy

>

> It was my understand that the ASR floppy basically acts as a boot disk

> so you can mount your backup data. It should not be trying to copy

> your actual data onto the floppy as the ASR still uses your standard

> backup media (i.e. Tape or NAS).

>

> Hope that helps...

>

>

[Guest wideye]

Re: Confused about ASR process

 

On Sep 19, 1:28 pm, Guy Kerr <GuyK...@discussions.microsoft.com>

wrote:

> Based on my research that's what I thought too but I tried on two separate

> servers and saw the same thing. Again, I'm sure I'm missing something.

>

> Thanks for your feedback.

>

> Guy

>

> "wideye" wrote:

> > On Sep 19, 12:04 pm, Guy Kerr <GuyK...@discussions.microsoft.com>

> > wrote:

> > > I feel stupid asking this question since I've found no discussions about this

> > > and feel that I must be missing something.

>

> > > We're doing an office move and I want to create up-to-date ASR's for each of

> > > my servers (all Server 2003). I used Windows Backup and the wizard to

> > > generate the ASR. It instructs me to insert the floppy but in no time the

> > > floppy is full and I'm asked to insert another. The backup progress

> > > indicates that I've got THOUSANDS more files (depends on which server) to

> > > backup and based on that screen I'd have to be swapping out floppies all day.

>

> > > Am I doing something wrong here? I expected that the process would simply

> > > copy the critical ASR files to the floppy and provide me the option to use

> > > another backup medium for the other system files needed to restore the server

> > > rather than assuming I want to use floppies for the entire process.

>

> > > Thanks in advance

>

> > > Guy

>

> > It was my understand that the ASR floppy basically acts as a boot disk

> > so you can mount your backup data. It should not be trying to copy

> > your actual data onto the floppy as the ASR still uses your standard

> > backup media (i.e. Tape or NAS).

>

> > Hope that helps...

 

I've done ASR's of pretty large systems and only used one floppy. What

is your media type? At what stage are you being asked to insert the

floppy disk?

[Guest John John]

Re: Confused about ASR process

 

 

 

wideye wrote:

> On Sep 19, 12:04 pm, Guy Kerr <GuyK...@discussions.microsoft.com>

> wrote:

>

>>I feel stupid asking this question since I've found no discussions about this

>>and feel that I must be missing something.

>>

>>We're doing an office move and I want to create up-to-date ASR's for each of

>>my servers (all Server 2003). I used Windows Backup and the wizard to

>>generate the ASR. It instructs me to insert the floppy but in no time the

>>floppy is full and I'm asked to insert another. The backup progress

>>indicates that I've got THOUSANDS more files (depends on which server) to

>>backup and based on that screen I'd have to be swapping out floppies all day.

>>

>>Am I doing something wrong here? I expected that the process would simply

>>copy the critical ASR files to the floppy and provide me the option to use

>>another backup medium for the other system files needed to restore the server

>>rather than assuming I want to use floppies for the entire process.

>>

>>Thanks in advance

>>

>>Guy

>

>

> It was my understand that the ASR floppy basically acts as a boot disk

> so you can mount your backup data. It should not be trying to copy

> your actual data onto the floppy as the ASR still uses your standard

> backup media (i.e. Tape or NAS).

 

No, that isn't correct. The ASR floppy contains the disk signatures,

partition table and Plug & Play information. You boot up with the OS CD

and when you select to do an ASR restore you will be asked for the floppy.

 

John

[Guest Guy Kerr]

Re: Confused about ASR process

 

Okay I think I figured out what I was doing wrong (maybe you can confirm for

me). The first thing the wizards asks for is a location for the default

Backup.bkf file. If I browse out to a drive etc. then select a location the

backup continues. In this case the Backup.bkf file was about 13gig. Once

that's done it prompts me to insert the ASR diskette. Once that's finished

the wizard completes. So am I correct in assuming that I should now copy off

the BACKUP.BKF file to a removable media and keep it with the ASR diskette

since they'll both be needed to restore the server to it's most basic state?

 

"wideye" wrote:

> On Sep 19, 1:28 pm, Guy Kerr <GuyK...@discussions.microsoft.com>

> wrote:

> > Based on my research that's what I thought too but I tried on two separate

> > servers and saw the same thing. Again, I'm sure I'm missing something.

> >

> > Thanks for your feedback.

> >

> > Guy

> >

> > "wideye" wrote:

> > > On Sep 19, 12:04 pm, Guy Kerr <GuyK...@discussions.microsoft.com>

> > > wrote:

> > > > I feel stupid asking this question since I've found no discussions about this

> > > > and feel that I must be missing something.

> >

> > > > We're doing an office move and I want to create up-to-date ASR's for each of

> > > > my servers (all Server 2003). I used Windows Backup and the wizard to

> > > > generate the ASR. It instructs me to insert the floppy but in no time the

> > > > floppy is full and I'm asked to insert another. The backup progress

> > > > indicates that I've got THOUSANDS more files (depends on which server) to

> > > > backup and based on that screen I'd have to be swapping out floppies all day.

> >

> > > > Am I doing something wrong here? I expected that the process would simply

> > > > copy the critical ASR files to the floppy and provide me the option to use

> > > > another backup medium for the other system files needed to restore the server

> > > > rather than assuming I want to use floppies for the entire process.

> >

> > > > Thanks in advance

> >

> > > > Guy

> >

> > > It was my understand that the ASR floppy basically acts as a boot disk

> > > so you can mount your backup data. It should not be trying to copy

> > > your actual data onto the floppy as the ASR still uses your standard

> > > backup media (i.e. Tape or NAS).

> >

> > > Hope that helps...

>

> I've done ASR's of pretty large systems and only used one floppy. What

> is your media type? At what stage are you being asked to insert the

> floppy disk?

>

>

[Guest Guy Kerr]

Re: Confused about ASR process

 

If that's the case, then why when running the ASR wizard does it ask you for

the location for the default BACKUP.BKF file, then backup all the necessary

files, then ask you to insert the ASR diskette? Again, this is using the ASR

Wizard so I'm just following the prompts.

 

Guy

 

"John John" wrote:

>

>

> wideye wrote:

> > On Sep 19, 12:04 pm, Guy Kerr <GuyK...@discussions.microsoft.com>

> > wrote:

> >

> >>I feel stupid asking this question since I've found no discussions about this

> >>and feel that I must be missing something.

> >>

> >>We're doing an office move and I want to create up-to-date ASR's for each of

> >>my servers (all Server 2003). I used Windows Backup and the wizard to

> >>generate the ASR. It instructs me to insert the floppy but in no time the

> >>floppy is full and I'm asked to insert another. The backup progress

> >>indicates that I've got THOUSANDS more files (depends on which server) to

> >>backup and based on that screen I'd have to be swapping out floppies all day.

> >>

> >>Am I doing something wrong here? I expected that the process would simply

> >>copy the critical ASR files to the floppy and provide me the option to use

> >>another backup medium for the other system files needed to restore the server

> >>rather than assuming I want to use floppies for the entire process.

> >>

> >>Thanks in advance

> >>

> >>Guy

> >

> >

> > It was my understand that the ASR floppy basically acts as a boot disk

> > so you can mount your backup data. It should not be trying to copy

> > your actual data onto the floppy as the ASR still uses your standard

> > backup media (i.e. Tape or NAS).

>

> No, that isn't correct. The ASR floppy contains the disk signatures,

> partition table and Plug & Play information. You boot up with the OS CD

> and when you select to do an ASR restore you will be asked for the floppy.

>

> John

>

>

[Guest Guy Kerr]

Re: Confused about ASR process

 

Sorry I just noticed that you were responding to Wideye's post about the ASR

being a boot disk. I thought you were responding to my post specifically.

 

Do you know then if the best practices are to copy off the .BKF file to

removable media and keep it with the ASR file and use the two in conjuction

to restore the OS and critical files?

 

Thanks for the feedback.

 

"John John" wrote:

>

>

> wideye wrote:

> > On Sep 19, 12:04 pm, Guy Kerr <GuyK...@discussions.microsoft.com>

> > wrote:

> >

> >>I feel stupid asking this question since I've found no discussions about this

> >>and feel that I must be missing something.

> >>

> >>We're doing an office move and I want to create up-to-date ASR's for each of

> >>my servers (all Server 2003). I used Windows Backup and the wizard to

> >>generate the ASR. It instructs me to insert the floppy but in no time the

> >>floppy is full and I'm asked to insert another. The backup progress

> >>indicates that I've got THOUSANDS more files (depends on which server) to

> >>backup and based on that screen I'd have to be swapping out floppies all day.

> >>

> >>Am I doing something wrong here? I expected that the process would simply

> >>copy the critical ASR files to the floppy and provide me the option to use

> >>another backup medium for the other system files needed to restore the server

> >>rather than assuming I want to use floppies for the entire process.

> >>

> >>Thanks in advance

> >>

> >>Guy

> >

> >

> > It was my understand that the ASR floppy basically acts as a boot disk

> > so you can mount your backup data. It should not be trying to copy

> > your actual data onto the floppy as the ASR still uses your standard

> > backup media (i.e. Tape or NAS).

>

> No, that isn't correct. The ASR floppy contains the disk signatures,

> partition table and Plug & Play information. You boot up with the OS CD

> and when you select to do an ASR restore you will be asked for the floppy.

>

> John

>

>

[Guest John John]

Re: Confused about ASR process

 

Do not store the backups on the operating system hard disk. Keep the

backup file and ASR floppy on an reliable media in a safe location. Do

not count on or use ASR for your data backups! ASR is intended to be

used as a "bare metal" disaster recovery solution. The backup files

should not be stored on the OS hard drive that you are backing up, in a

disaster involving hard disk failure the backup would be lost! ASR will

format the boot volume during the recovery process.

 

John

 

Guy Kerr wrote:

> Sorry I just noticed that you were responding to Wideye's post about the ASR

> being a boot disk. I thought you were responding to my post specifically.

>

> Do you know then if the best practices are to copy off the .BKF file to

> removable media and keep it with the ASR file and use the two in conjuction

> to restore the OS and critical files?

>

> Thanks for the feedback.

>

> "John John" wrote:

>

>

>>

>>wideye wrote:

>>

>>>On Sep 19, 12:04 pm, Guy Kerr <GuyK...@discussions.microsoft.com>

>>>wrote:

>>>

>>>

>>>>I feel stupid asking this question since I've found no discussions about this

>>>>and feel that I must be missing something.

>>>>

>>>>We're doing an office move and I want to create up-to-date ASR's for each of

>>>>my servers (all Server 2003). I used Windows Backup and the wizard to

>>>>generate the ASR. It instructs me to insert the floppy but in no time the

>>>>floppy is full and I'm asked to insert another. The backup progress

>>>>indicates that I've got THOUSANDS more files (depends on which server) to

>>>>backup and based on that screen I'd have to be swapping out floppies all day.

>>>>

>>>>Am I doing something wrong here? I expected that the process would simply

>>>>copy the critical ASR files to the floppy and provide me the option to use

>>>>another backup medium for the other system files needed to restore the server

>>>>rather than assuming I want to use floppies for the entire process.

>>>>

>>>>Thanks in advance

>>>>

>>>>Guy

>>>

>>>

>>>It was my understand that the ASR floppy basically acts as a boot disk

>>>so you can mount your backup data. It should not be trying to copy

>>>your actual data onto the floppy as the ASR still uses your standard

>>>backup media (i.e. Tape or NAS).

>>

>>No, that isn't correct. The ASR floppy contains the disk signatures,

>>partition table and Plug & Play information. You boot up with the OS CD

>>and when you select to do an ASR restore you will be asked for the floppy.

>>

>>John

>>

>>