Confused about ASR process

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guy Kerr
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Guy Kerr

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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
 
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...
 
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...
>
>
 
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?
 
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
 
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?
>
>
 
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
>
>
 
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
>
>
 
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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