Disaster recovery advice please

[keithinuk]

Hello
I work for a small S/W house (5 people). We have VERY little network traffic and no external links into our server. If the server was down for a few days it wouldn't be too critical. We have numerous tape backups and full HDD backups to a laptop. I was asked to build a standby server (I'm an A/P with no network or server O/S experience) to be used in the event of a disaster.

I've disconnected the standby server from the network and changed the computer name to be the same as the main server.

I've restored a full system backup and the system state from the main server in Directory Services Restore Mode as recommended by my reference book.

I still can't get the system up and running. Once the Win2K status bar reaches the right hand side of the screen the system reboots itself.

The hardware profiles are not identical. Is this critical ???? (Details below)

If I'm going about this the wrong way could somebody point me in the right direction please or suggest a better way to cater for disaster. I've spent 2.5 weeks trying to do this and I'm getting nowhere fast.

Please advise or help if you can.
Thank you
Keith

Main server
256MB RAM
800MHz AMD processor
1 x Std floppy (A
Adaptec AIC-788x/AHA-2940UW Pro SCSI controller
1 x SCSI ARCHIVE Python 0468-xxx DAT drive
3 x SCSI Seagate HDD 8GB each (C:, D:, E
1 x CDROM Creative 48 speed (F
1 x ATI 3D Rage Pro AGP Graphics
1 x HCF 56k modem
1 X Scanjet 440c
1 x HP Lasrjet 6P

Standby server
128MB RAM
300MHz Intel PII MMX
1 x Std floppy (A
Adaptec AHA-2940U/AHA-2940UW SCSI controller
1 x SCSI ARCHIVE Python 0468-xxx DAT drive
1 x IDE Maxtor HDD 32GB Partitioned (C9GB), D11.5GB), E11.5GB))
1 x CDROM 56 speed (F
S3Trio 32/64 Graphics
No modem fitted
No scanner attached
No printer attached

 

[GlenJohnson]

You can't have two computers with the same name. What OS's are you using. Which system won't come up, the main server or the backup? You should create ERD's and once a month update them. Also, (I'm assuming you've got w2k servers.) use the backup that comes with the system tools, and copy your system state to the root of c drive. This way, if you crash, and can get back into safe mode, the system state holds your registry. Also, remember, if you crash and can't get it back running, you can go into last known good configuration, and that will restore your server to the last time you succesfully logged on. Doesn't work if you've logged on after it crashes. Hope this helps. Glen A. Johnson
Microsoft Certified Professional
glen@nellsgiftbox.com


"Knowledge of the world is only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet."
Lord Chesterfield 1694-1773); English statesman.

 

[keithinuk]

Hello Glen
I disconnected the standby server from the network and then changed the computer name. It didn't complain even after rebooting.

I'm running the basic Windows 2000 server.

I installed a very basic Win2K server on to the standby server then I restored the files/structure and system state from the main server over the top. It's when I subsequently boot the standby server that it won't load Win2K.

I hadn't been creating ERDs so I'll start that now. Thank you !!!! I've already created a boot disc.

I'm using the MS supplied NTBackup for all backups and restores.

I backup the system state to tape every two weeks at present so I'll add a daily backup to a different HDD as well.

Any thoughts on why the system won't load Win2K ????
How critical is the hardware profile ????

Thanks for all your help and advise so far !!!!!!!!!!!!
Keith