Bare Metal Recovery

[MrChip2]

I am looking for recommendations on software. I want to be able to create bare metal backups of a W2K server that is running a SQL database. I have a DDS4 tape drive and an 80GB external hard drive. I would like to make the backups to both devices, and store the external hard drive offsite for security.

I use the tape drive and BackUp Exec 8.6 to backup my data daily. However, it took a very long time for a technical consultant to configure the server. He is no longer around so I am looking for an idiot-proof solution that would allow me to quickly rebuild the system from scratch. In other words, if my server had a complete failure and needed to be replaced, this solution would let me (a technical novice in terms of system building) rebuild my system complete with OS, updates, software applications, data files, network configuration, etc.

To make this more challenging, I am on a somewhat limited budget. I really can’t spend more than a couple of hundred dollars on the software

Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[k3n85]

I've also been looking into the manner for bare metal, and from what your describing I can vouch for. One I did a trial on was

http://www.acronis.com/.

"Create an exact server disk image for complete server backup providing organizations with the most comprehensive, reliable, and cost effective server protection."

Was able to clone a Win2k3 machine pretty fast and not too bad of a size. I however didn't get around the restore process, which I want to go back and try before purchase. But I've heard good things about them and the interface was pretty painless and straight forward.

Post if you find something effective for you solution as I would be interested.

 

[richyd]

Norton Ghost is also a good option, this should also allow you to take backups of the system whilst its still on.

http://www.virtualapps.co.uk

also provide a solution, email them for details.


An excellent backup to disk solution which is managed off
Site is BobtheBackup.com

Once a full backup has occurred, there is a binary mode which only backs up the file changes each night or when ever you set the automated backups.

This is an offsite solution too which you could use as disaster recovery

 

[Santei]

One more Vote for Acronis.
I use those products, so do not hesistate to ask me if needed.

 

[pie8ter]

I like Ghost for bare metal backups and have been not following up with the current releases since ghost 7.0 and ghost 2003.

Someone here mentioned that Ghost now does online backup of the servers while the server is running. I am curious about how ghost is doing this. Is it a file level backup? or sector-by-sector copy of the disk? This is the only difference between Acronis and Ghost.