What Norton Ghost version to use 2

[MockY]

I wonder what Norton Ghost version I should use in order to make a copy of my system disk. 9.0 and up all just supports Home use OSes and contacting Symantec is impossible.

Simply put, I want to make a copy of my system disk so that in case of a hardware failure, I could in a fast manner install the system from the backup and be up and running again like nothing happened. I run 2 disks in RAID1. But the jungle of versions out there does not make it easy for me and getting an old version of Ghost 8.3 is impossible.

So point me in the right direction please.

 

[Roadki11]

Not sure about all versions that will do windows 2003 server but i can tell you what i have used. Ghost 2003 and Ghost Solution Suite 2(ghost 11) work, ive used both many times with out issue.



RoadKi11

"This apparent fear reaction is typical, rather than try to solve technical problems technically, policy solutions are often chosen." - Fred Cohen

 

[tfg13]

As Roadki11 suggests, and what I have used to ghost several Windows 2003 servers is Ghost 2003. Works like a charm.

 

[MockY]

Thank you for your replies. I went straight to Ghost 2003 and it worked perfectly. I do have a question however, though it is not Windows related at all.

What is the purpose of installing Ghost 2003 if all you want to do is to backup the hard drive or restoring? I boot from the Ghost recovery disk when both creating an image and to restore, bypassing the installed Ghost all together. And since you are not using any installed OS at all, what difference does the OS you are backing up make when you are strictly using PC DOS from the floppy? I don't see any problem as long as the file system on the target and destination drive is supported. Or....?

 

[LawnBoy]

When you install Ghost you can make an image while the system is still running. No down time.

Strictly speaking, the OS doesn't matter if you're performing basic imaging tasks. However the OS does matter if you want to use the extras, like slipstreaming different drivers into the image so you can restore it on different hardware.

"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[MockY]

Ok, I have a an idea and I hope it is possible somehow. I want to schedule when Ghost will create a new image of the hard drive. That way I can run it every night and have a current image at all times. I would later want to push this image to another server located outside the LAN and automatically apply it.

I have 2 Terminal Servers that I want to mirror up. So when the day is over, a new image is created on the main server and later applied to the backup server. This results in having 2 exact copies of the server, a perfect disaster solution in case of a fire, flood or any other things that could happen.

But maybe it is easier to just run Ghost once and then have some kind of sync software updating the offsite server every night or in real time.