Backup server A & restore to server B

[app1nag]

I am not very familiar with Legato because we have a group that handles all backup software at my company. I am in the application group and we recently deployed Legato Networker for our Wintel servers. We just completed testing of the backup and restore feature, including system state, and everything worked as expected. However, we were told that the backup and restore servers must be identical, in order for everything to go as smoothly as it did. In other words, we backed up a Compaq 7000, and restored to another identically configured 7000. What if wanted to restore to a different type server, say a Compaq 570? Would (should) it work as seamlessly as our initial test? Is there any reason why we could not back up one type of Wintel server running Win2000 and restore to a different type server also running Win2000?

Thank You!

 

[goony]

No reason that I can think of... it should work, but be aware that Legato Networker is just restoring files from "A" to "B" - if those files result in a system that doesn't run on a particular hardware configuration then that's not the fault of Legato.

To be safe, you'd better test out a restore to a target system (like what you had in mind) to see if it will really run. Don't wait to that awful day when it just *has* to work to find out that it won't.

 

[TDun]

The problem is in restoring the system state.
If you overwrite an existing box's registry etc with data telling it that it is using different hardware, you can usually expect your system to crash when you reload it.
If you wish to restore system A to system B and system B is not the same as system A, then ensure you have the same disk drive letters (or do a directed recovery) and recover the data only, not the system state.

 

[app1nag]

thanks for the replies...server A and server B would have identical directory structures and would look identical except for the fact that server A was a Compaq 7000 and server B was a Compaq 570...

 

[HiAll]

You can restore to another server, however, you must use the same series of RAID controller (same driver in w2k). Also, you can restore the SYSTEM STATE if you use same host name.

 

[LGTObug]

Definitly it would be possible. But the Hosts you like to recover to must have exactly the same Hardware as the Source-Client.

WINDOWS and directed recover is horror. I know it from my own

 

[TDun]

HiAll, you can't restore the system state if you have different kerenls, e.g. a different HAL, single CPU vs Multi CPU....

 

[Serbtastic]

In fact, if you have any hardware different (video, RAID, SCSI adapter, fibre HBA etc...) and you restore the system state, it could lead to system instability. Microsoft does not support restoring the SYSTEM STATE from one machine to another, and it is exactly for this reason. As a result, Legato does not recommend or support it either.

 

[spaceball]

Hi,
as long as Server A & B running on the same os-type a redirected recover to Server B works fine. Recover single files or directories going this way wouldn`t cause problems. Just ensure that server "B" and the required User is on Server "A" 's remote access list.

Regards spaceball