Server 2003 image creation

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Chris

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Hi,

I have used Acronis Image Server before to create a complete image of a
server, which I then recreated a RAID and put the image back on top
successfully.

Does anyone else out there know of any other more cost-effective solutions
as Acronis can be a little pricey. Any ideas welcome, but all I need to do is
create an image of a HP ProLiant DLxxx server as a RAID 1, recreate the RAID
and then put the image back on top of the new RAID set.

Also, if this image is transferrable to another different hardware (like
Acronis Universal Restore option) then please again let me know. Thanks

Chris
 
Re: Server 2003 image creation


"Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8496A3D4-D7D4-4DF5-AFC2-EF99518CBC3F@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have used Acronis Image Server before to create a complete image of a
> server, which I then recreated a RAID and put the image back on top
> successfully.
>
> Does anyone else out there know of any other more cost-effective solutions
> as Acronis can be a little pricey. Any ideas welcome, but all I need to do
> is
> create an image of a HP ProLiant DLxxx server as a RAID 1, recreate the
> RAID
> and then put the image back on top of the new RAID set.
>
> Also, if this image is transferrable to another different hardware (like
> Acronis Universal Restore option) then please again let me know. Thanks
>
> Chris

The following method may or may not work. It is, of course, a trade-off:
Either you spend the money for an Acronis licence or you spend the time
on this manual process.
1. Partition & format an IDE disk of sufficient size on some WinXP PC.
2. Connect it to your server's IDE controller (or to its USB port by means
of an external USB case for your disk).
3. Boot the machine with a Bart PE boot CD.
4. Copy the RAID partition(s) to the IDE disk, using robocopy.exe.
5. Replace the old RAID disks with the new ones.
6. Reverse Step 4.

I doubt that there is an equivalent to Acronis Universal Restore. As
you may know, it forces a hardware detection process, which is
equivalent to going through a Windows repair process. Going through
the repair process will probably reset or even wreck you server.
 
Re: Server 2003 image creation

Hi,

I have made a BartPE boot CD, and it goes to a limited OS. I#ve gone to the
command prompt and tried to use robocopy but it isn't coming up with
anything. Do I need to install robocopy first?

Also, once I've got robocopy working what command do I use to copy the
entire server image to the spare hard drive?

Thanks

Chris

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>
> "Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:8496A3D4-D7D4-4DF5-AFC2-EF99518CBC3F@microsoft.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have used Acronis Image Server before to create a complete image of a
> > server, which I then recreated a RAID and put the image back on top
> > successfully.
> >
> > Does anyone else out there know of any other more cost-effective solutions
> > as Acronis can be a little pricey. Any ideas welcome, but all I need to do
> > is
> > create an image of a HP ProLiant DLxxx server as a RAID 1, recreate the
> > RAID
> > and then put the image back on top of the new RAID set.
> >
> > Also, if this image is transferrable to another different hardware (like
> > Acronis Universal Restore option) then please again let me know. Thanks
> >
> > Chris
>
> The following method may or may not work. It is, of course, a trade-off:
> Either you spend the money for an Acronis licence or you spend the time
> on this manual process.
> 1. Partition & format an IDE disk of sufficient size on some WinXP PC.
> 2. Connect it to your server's IDE controller (or to its USB port by means
> of an external USB case for your disk).
> 3. Boot the machine with a Bart PE boot CD.
> 4. Copy the RAID partition(s) to the IDE disk, using robocopy.exe.
> 5. Replace the old RAID disks with the new ones.
> 6. Reverse Step 4.
>
> I doubt that there is an equivalent to Acronis Universal Restore. As
> you may know, it forces a hardware detection process, which is
> equivalent to going through a Windows repair process. Going through
> the repair process will probably reset or even wreck you server.
>
>
>
 
Re: Server 2003 image creation


"Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5D9CAF89-DEEE-4510-9100-4C3AF631A48E@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have made a BartPE boot CD, and it goes to a limited OS. I#ve gone to
> the
> command prompt and tried to use robocopy but it isn't coming up with
> anything. Do I need to install robocopy first?

*** What exactly do you mean with "It isn't coming up with
*** anything"? Remember - we can't see your screen!

> Also, once I've got robocopy working what command do I use to copy the
> entire server image to the spare hard drive?

*** Try robocopy /?. Lot's of helplful stuff there, same as in the
*** vast majority of console commands.
 
Re: Server 2003 image creation

IT's ok, I got robocopy working. There are a lot of switches with /? but
using the correct one(s) to copy the image to the hard drive is the tricky
one. Would it literally be a 'copy c:\ d:\' as in DOS, or is something else
needed to copy the actual partition instead of the files on the partition?

thanks

Chris

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>
> "Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:5D9CAF89-DEEE-4510-9100-4C3AF631A48E@microsoft.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have made a BartPE boot CD, and it goes to a limited OS. I#ve gone to
> > the
> > command prompt and tried to use robocopy but it isn't coming up with
> > anything. Do I need to install robocopy first?
>
> *** What exactly do you mean with "It isn't coming up with
> *** anything"? Remember - we can't see your screen!
>
> > Also, once I've got robocopy working what command do I use to copy the
> > entire server image to the spare hard drive?
>
> *** Try robocopy /?. Lot's of helplful stuff there, same as in the
> *** vast majority of console commands.
>
>
>
 
Re: Server 2003 image creation


"Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:19CCAFB6-305D-4605-A8B9-20726BEC940E@microsoft.com...
> IT's ok, I got robocopy working. There are a lot of switches with /? but
> using the correct one(s) to copy the image to the hard drive is the tricky
> one. Would it literally be a 'copy c:\ d:\' as in DOS, or is something
> else
> needed to copy the actual partition instead of the files on the partition?
>
> thanks
>
> Chris

Forget about DOS (isn't this the legacy operating system
introduced some 30 years ago?) - this is the Windows
Command Console. As the first few lines of the robocopy
help file say, robocopy is about copying directories and
files. The word "partition" is not even mentioned. In other
words, robocopy will copy every file/folder you specify,
nothing more, nothing less. This is why you must first format
the target partition. I recommend you have a bit of a practice
run to build up your confidence. As a server administrator it
would be an excellent idea to become familiar with Console
Commands. GUIs are for users! (I'll revise this: GUIs for the
basic stuff are for users.)
 
Re: Server 2003 image creation

Understood. I got 'partition' from your original message, but I think you
were referring to the files/folders on the partition...I took that as BartPE
could create an image of the partition, for me to use later to restore on the
rebuilt RAID.

I will give this a try tomorrow. Thanks for your help!

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>
> "Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:19CCAFB6-305D-4605-A8B9-20726BEC940E@microsoft.com...
> > IT's ok, I got robocopy working. There are a lot of switches with /? but
> > using the correct one(s) to copy the image to the hard drive is the tricky
> > one. Would it literally be a 'copy c:\ d:\' as in DOS, or is something
> > else
> > needed to copy the actual partition instead of the files on the partition?
> >
> > thanks
> >
> > Chris
>
> Forget about DOS (isn't this the legacy operating system
> introduced some 30 years ago?) - this is the Windows
> Command Console. As the first few lines of the robocopy
> help file say, robocopy is about copying directories and
> files. The word "partition" is not even mentioned. In other
> words, robocopy will copy every file/folder you specify,
> nothing more, nothing less. This is why you must first format
> the target partition. I recommend you have a bit of a practice
> run to build up your confidence. As a server administrator it
> would be an excellent idea to become familiar with Console
> Commands. GUIs are for users! (I'll revise this: GUIs for the
> basic stuff are for users.)
>
>
>
 
Re: Server 2003 image creation

Sorry, my unfortunate choice of words. I should have said
"Copy the files and folders from your various partitions . . ."
Please remember that this method may or may not result
in a bootable server installation.

"Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:42567AEC-768F-4A59-9B4E-E935170B30DE@microsoft.com...
> Understood. I got 'partition' from your original message, but I think you
> were referring to the files/folders on the partition...I took that as
> BartPE
> could create an image of the partition, for me to use later to restore on
> the
> rebuilt RAID.
>
> I will give this a try tomorrow. Thanks for your help!
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
>
>>
 
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