| Author | Message | ||
     7873jake |
I have a Win Server 2008 R2 that a business contact needs backed up prior to moving the unit physically (insurance in case of mishap in an upcoming relocation). I realize that cloning and imaging are two different animals but wanted to see if anyone here had experience with any aftermarket packages for Server 2008 R2. The unit in question houses a simple SQL database with CRM software attached to it. It is relatively new and has backups on the data done regularly but the fear is that if the server were to be damaged, the entire configuration for SQL and the CRM server app suite would have to be rebuilt and that involves about 8-10 hours of rework. As I research this, I have a feeling no good deed goes unpunished but I thought someone here might know of a good option so I can help. --Jake | ||
| Glitch |
General Hardware-Oriented System Transfer or GHOST Is the way I would go if I was transferring to the same hardware. | ||
| Airbozo |
Clonezilla works for me. Free too. I use it to regularly clone my Sharepoint server when we make either simple of major changes to the config. It is not backup software as you can only restore the entire disk or partition at a time (depending on how you started it). I use it in a production environment here at work for everything from Windows XP up to Server 2012. I also use it on many flavors of linux. http://www.clonezilla.org/ If you have any questions, let me know. One hint, use mostly defaults and start it in beginner mode and use the "entire disk" option. For large disks you either need one as big or larger in the system or connected to it via USB (slow option). I prefer to use the server edition which takes a bit more setup and a spare server, but if you do it often you will want this setup. http://www.clonezilla.org/clonezilla-SE/ Good luck! | ||
| Froggy |
At my job we have several physical disk duplicators, including one that will duplicate a single host drive onto 5 other drives at the same time. For a single use, your best bet is Clonezilla like Airbozo mentions. The UI sucks and you need to be careful when reading the options but it works great. We used to use Norton Ghost, but my understanding is that it is discontinued now, so Clonezilla is your best bet. | ||
| Airbozo |
I have one of the 1->5 disk machines as well. It just takes so long to dupe even a 250gb disk. Plus it won't work with raid drives. Clonezilla will work with _most_ raid setups. Yes Ghost has been discontinued. Sucks too since one of my customers still creates images using it and we can't buy licenses anymore to keep them legit (working on that now). EDIT: BTW: I wrote a work instruction for using clonezilla with DRBL for my lab. If you want a copy, let me know. Most of the steps would apply if you use it in server mode. (Message edited by Airbozo on November 27, 2013) | ||
| D_adams |
http://www.acronis.com/ works well for me, I've been using it for maybe 6 years or so on windows machines. I have a custom script for my linux boxes. | ||
| 7873jake |
Thank you for the responses. Over the years, I think the only thing I did more often than create/deploy Ghost images was hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete. I didn't think that Ghost was compatible with the new(er) server versions...last time I worked in Server consistently, it was Server '03 and '08 with Ghost ver 7 and 8 and some GhostCast for larger imaging projects. My original MCSE was in NT 4.0 if that puts this in better focus.  I will definitely check out the Clonezilla. I like the ability to clone the machine in theory, especially if I can push that image to another (dissimilar) machine as I've seen in some cloning apps vs. simply imaging alone. Thanks again. Since it will be sunny, cold (40's overnight, 60's during the day), I'll likely stay in over the long weekend and work on this instead of going riding.  | ||
| D_adams |
Acronis has the capability of stripping the UID and SID from windows boxes, which makes deploying to completely different hardware much easier. Not sure if clonezilla does the same. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I used Acronis for a long time as well, and was impressed with what it could do. Haven't tried it since before windows 7 though. | ||
| Airbozo |
There are ways around stripping the UID and SID, but I've only done it once and that was due to a change in hardware by the customer. In the end I think i just booted the system, let it complain and then installed the correct drivers for the motherboard. On some systems running server 2008, it will drop into the repair screen, but you just hit cancel and let it boot normally. Then make sure to reboot once before making any changes. I've only seen this happen on some Supermicro blade servers (not all of them). There is some info on the Clonezilla site concerning any windows issues: "DRBL-Winroll is a tool that enables MS-Windows client to accept commands from DRBL server, and it resolve windows hostname, SID duplication problem via using image clone tool at single local LAN.It can also adjust "workgroup" name and Windows network configuration automatically." All in all a great tool I use mainly for imaging new customer systems. The biggest issue I've had is trying to restore to a smaller disk, but there are ways around that too. There is a linux toolset called MONDO MINDI that can create bootable dvd's to use for restoration. Supposedly there is a way to do that in Clonezilla, but I have never figured it out. |
