Cloning server drive... what software?

[mit74]

Is there any good software that clones drives that are running windows s2003 without needing to turn off the server. I would raid it but the mobo doesnt support it.

 

[Paul_Rosser]

I've used Acronis true image to clone a server whilst it's live.

If you just want a forensic copy of the drive you could use something like FTK Lite (it's free) to create an .E01 image.

Silly question but why does it have to be whilst the server is live ? Any imaging will slow the machine down and take a lot longer than doing it offline.

 

[mit74]

I've used Acronis true image to clone a server whilst it's live.

If you just want a forensic copy of the drive you could use something like FTK Lite (it's free) to create an .E01 image.

Silly question but why does it have to be whilst the server is live ? Any imaging will slow the machine down and take a lot longer than doing it offline.

Thanks I'll have a look. The company desperately need a clone backup and I've been telling them it the drive failed they would be up s*** creek but they can't shut it off for a day for cloning as it's too important. So doing it while it's on seems to be the next option.

 

[Paul_Rosser]

If it's that important to them it really should at the very least be using some sort of RAID.

You can use the vmware tools to create a virtual copy of a live server, it slows it down a lot but you can then load the virtual image using VM on any hardware you like should the worst happen.

You also run the risk that if there is anything wrong with the disk when the image is taken it may cause the server to blue screen.

If it's not your server and that of a client then make sure you warn them in advance that you recommend doing an offline clone and that doing whilst the server is on will result in a loss of performance and potentially the server crashing, least then you are covered if something does go wrong.

 

[Optegris]

I use idera cdp. Works very well and will restore an entire server or individual files back to any point in time you set.

 

[CSHTech]

I've used Acronis true image to clone a server whilst it's live.

If you just want a forensic copy of the drive you could use something like FTK Lite (it's free) to create an .E01 image.

Silly question but why does it have to be whilst the server is live ? Any imaging will slow the machine down and take a lot longer than doing it offline.

I use Acronis too and would recommend that you make sure that you buy the 'Universal Restore' module too. This allows you to replace the image on dissimilar hardware if necessary as it takes care of different motherboard drivers, etc. Well worth the little bit extra and has saved my bacon in the past when my office PC gave up the ghost. I just built another and installed the image .

Hope this helps.

Chris

 

[E21MEDIA]

Is there any good software that clones drives that are running windows s2003 without needing to turn off the server. I would raid it but the mobo doesnt support it.

Hi,

Have you looked at CloneZilla or Windows NT Backup?

 

[Brutus1983]

For cloning, I am always using Acronis. Never had any problems with it, so you might give it a try.

 

[mit74]

okay thanks guys