Restore to different hardware questions

[DanielUK]

I'm about to do a swing migration to integrate a 2003 SBS box into my existing win2k domain. It all looks straightforward but I have a couple of question marks over redundancy.

I've read Microsoft's "Backing up and restoring windows Small Business Server 2003" which states that you can restore an SBS backup to different hardware so long as chipset, hd disk size, no. of processors and some other items match.

1. If I can't revive the existing server and consequently have to use very different hardware, am I best off trying to build a new SBS2003 box from scratch and try to seize the FSMO roles?

2. Along the same lines, can the existing Win2k DCs in my domain that are about to be demoted with this migration be promoted and seize the roles back if the SBS box goes down for any length of time?

Dan

 

[markdmac]

1: Yes if you are going to go that route
2: No, SBS must hold the FSMO roles

For restoring to different hardware, I suggest you take a look at ShadowProtect. It is not that much money to purchase and it will save you a great deal of time on the rebuild and it lets you inject new device drivers into your image to be able t restore to different hardware.

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.

 

[DanielUK]

Thanks Mark,

Just to clarify, if I have to completely replace the SBS2003 server hardware, I would have to seize the roles using only another SBS server i.e. I would not be able to seize the roles using any other windows server machine?

Thanks

Dan

 

[markdmac]

If the SBS box was offline then you could seize the roles, but you won't be able to transfer them and have SBS be online. SBS will freak out on you.

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.