Guest Guy Kerr Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 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 Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 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 Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 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 Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 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 Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 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 Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 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 Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 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 Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 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 Posted September 20, 2007 Posted September 20, 2007 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 >> >>
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