Changing Hard Drives in Server

[bkrampe]

We are currently running out of space on our server and we require bigger hard drives. I was just wanting to make sure that if i used the backup utility that comes on SBS 2003, that i would be able to reload it back onto larger hard drives and not incounter problems. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[PHV]

IMHO, Ghost from Symantec is your friend.

Hope This Helps, PH.
FAQ219-2884
FAQ181-2886

 

[bkrampe]

Ghost 2003, I have read is able to make a copy of the whole server and put it back on a bigger hard drive. Am i correct on what i read?

 

[wahnula]

bkrampe, recovery from SBS backup is a painless procedure, as long as you give your new drive/array the same letter(s) as before it should work fine. Basicallly, you take note of your Service Pack level, install SBS disc one and upgrade it to your present Service Pack level, start NTBackup, make your choices and recover from backup. Piece of cake, and good practice for a real disaster too. If your backups are no good, better to find out this way.

For PHV's solution, Ghost 2003 is the money-saving version to use, newer versions will not work with SBS unless they're the (ouch) Enterpri$e Version...

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[markdmac]

I'd recommend StorageCraft's ShadowProtect Server. That product totally rocks and even offers a hardware independent restore.

We used to use Ghost, but ShadowProtect blows it away.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[wahnula]

markdmac, I totally agree in an enterprise environment your suggestion is an excellent one. But a SMB might not have $900 to spend on software right now, I know mine does not.

I also agree hardware-independent restore is also a critically important feature...but...respectfully...the OP simply wants to migrate to a new, larger drive/array. This can be done as they ask with SBS Backup (free) or Ghost 2003 (~$40 USD while they last).

I personally like the SBS Backup recovery plan because that will prepare the user for recovery from an actual failure as well as test the backup system.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[markdmac]

If this is a one time deal they can download the trial version which is fully functional and see the benefits of the software which go beyond this simple task.

Having the ability to do 15 minute snapshots of your server is huge from a DR standpoint.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[mofusjtf]

I agree with Mark StorageCraft is the way to go!!!! The trial is fully functional and the SBS version is $495 not $900.

 

[ShackDaddy]

One nice feature of the StorageCraft backup is the ability to fire up the backup image as a VM if you need to. Say, the original server ends up totally hosed during the migration, and that your RAID won't rebuild, so you can do a full restore on that server. Allocate some space on a fat SATA disk and fire up that image in a VM to provide temporary access to resources until the original gets back on its feet.

I've used the trial several times when I've been called into an emergency situation and didn't want to rely on whatever the client had going on already.

During the last year I've been transitioning quite a few of the SBS servers I manage from NTBackup to ShadowProtect, primarily because of the DR options that an image-based backup provides. A .bkf file is nice, but it doesn't have equivalent potential.

For clients bigger than the SBS space, I've begun using DPM.

Dave Shackelford
ThirdTier.net

 

[CAPPBC]

I use Acronis True Image Server...works well...

 

[bkrampe]

I am trying to use StorageCraft but can not figure out how to boot to StorageCraft to replace the C: drive. I have read that you need a Recovery Environment CD but can not seem to locate one. Am i right in thinking this?

 

[CAPPBC]

What I usually do with images is I create an image of the HD you want to replace. Connect the drive to the server and burn that image to it. Once completed, simply remove the old HD and place the new one in. If you are dealing with a SCSI RAID, you will need to modify the configuration to load the new harddrive as a logical drive in order to be able to burn the image to it.

 

[markdmac]

You should be able to boot off the StorageCraft ShadowProtect CD. Then from there choose Restore and point to the saved backup.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[bkrampe]

I dont have a ShadowProtect CD. I am only using the trial version. Know where i can get one the the bootable cd's?

 

[markdmac]

The trial version can be burned to CD. Did you download the ISO format?

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[bkrampe]

I have not been able to locate the .iso format. Link?

 

[markdmac]

I would recommend that you contact StorageCraft. They have been good for us the few times we needed support. Let them know you are testing a full DR (Disaster Recovery) scenario and are looking to test a bare metal restore. They should be able to point you to an ISO you can use.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.