70-290: MCSE Guide to Managing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment Chapter 12: Managing and Implementing Backups and Disaster Recovery

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70-290 MCSE Guide to Managing a Microsoft
Windows Server 2003 EnvironmentChapter 12
Managing and Implementing Backups and Disaster
Recovery
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Objectives

• Plan for disaster recovery of Windows Server 2003
  systems
• Back up and restore data
• Implement shadow copy volumes
• Understand the purpose of the Automated System
  Recovery feature

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Objectives (continued)

• Understand Windows Server 2003 advanced startup
  options
• Install and use the Recovery Console

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Planning for Disaster Recovery

• Administrators need to be prepared for the
  possibility of server failure and/or file and
  folder loss at all times
• Windows Server 2003 features
• The Backup utility
• Shadow Copies of Shared Volumes
• Automated System Recovery
• Advanced startup options
• The Recovery Console

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Backing Up and Restoring Data

• Backup utility designed to restore an operating
  system or data in case of failure
• Improved version of utility originally introduced
  in Windows 2000

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Backing Up and Restoring Data (continued)

• Tasks that can be performed include
• Back up and restore files and folders
• Schedule a backup
• Back up Windows 2003 System State data
• Restore the Active Directory database
• Create an Automated System Recovery (ASR) backup

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Backup and Restore Concepts

• Types of backups and backup hardware and software
  is dictated largely by the size and type of
  organization
• A key issue is backup authority
• Administrators, Backup Operators, and Server
  Operators have broad authority
• Other users may have some limited authority to
  back up certain files and folders

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Backup and Restore Concepts (continued)

• Two main Group Policy rights are Back up files
  and directories and Restore files and directories

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Backup Types

• Backup types include
• Normal backup
• Incremental backup
• Differential backup
• Daily backup
• Copy backup

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Normal Backup

• Default type of backup performed by Backup
  utility
• Backs up all selected files and folders and
  clears the archive attribute on each
• This type of backup can be inefficient because it
  does not take into account whether files have
  changed

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Incremental Backup

• Backs up only files that have changed since last
  normal or incremental backup
• Clears the archive attributes of the files
• Reduces the size of backup jobs
• Restore process is more complicated
• Normal backup and incremental backups must be
  restored in order

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Incremental Backup (continued)
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Differential Backup

• Backs up only files that have changed since last
  normal or incremental backup
• Does not clear the archive attributes of those
  files
• A second differential backup will back up the
  same files since the first backup is not recorded
  by the archive attributes
• Reduces the size of backup jobs compared to
  normal backups but not incremental backups
• Restore process requires only the normal backup
  and the latest differential backup

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Differential Backup (continued)
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Daily Backup and Copy Backup

• Daily Backup
• Backs up selected files or folders that were
  created or changed on the day of the backup
• The archive attribute is not changed
• Copy Backup
• Exactly the same as a normal backup but doesnt
  change the archive attribute
• Intended as a backup that will not interrupt
  other backup procedures (perhaps an archival copy)

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Using the Backup Utility

• Commonly used to back up critical data and
  operating system files
• Can be used in two modes Wizard mode and
  Advanced mode
• Can be used to
• Back up System State data
• Restore Active Directory
• Access Automated System Restore feature

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Using the Backup Utility (continued)
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Activity 12-1 Backing Up Files and Folders Using
the Backup Utility

• Objective To explore the use of Windows Server
  2003 Backup utility for backing up files and
  folders
• Start ? All Programs ? Accessories ? System Tools
  ? Backup
• Use Advanced Mode to back up the contents of a
  folder

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Activity 12-1 (continued)
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Activity 12-1 (continued)
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Activity 12-2 Restoring Files and Folders Using
the Backup Utility

• Objective To use Backup utility to restore
  previously backed up files
• Start ? Run ? type ntbackup.exe ? Advanced Mode
• Follow directions to restore the files backed up
  in Activity 12-1 to an alternate location
• Verify that the files have been restored

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Activity 12-2 (continued)
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Scheduling Backups

• Backups can be scheduled to occur without
  interaction from an administrator
• Can schedule backups daily, weekly, monthly,
  predefined times, predefined days

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Scheduling Backups (continued)
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Activity 12-3 Scheduling Backup Operations Using
the Backup Utility

• Objective Use the Windows Server 2003 Backup
  utility to schedule a backup
• Open the Backup utility and use the Backup and
  Restore Wizard
• Set the Schedule Job to Daily and select a time
• Confirm that the backup has been scheduled
• Confirm that the backup occurs as scheduled

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Activity 12-3 (continued)
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Backing Up and Restoring System State Data

• System State data includes
• Registry (always)
• COM Class Registration database (always)
• Boot files (always)
• Certificate Services database (if installed)
• Active Directory (on domain controllers)
• SYSVOL directory (on domain controllers)
• Cluster service (if part of a cluster)
• IIS Metadirectory (if IIS is installed)
• System files (always)

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Backing Up and Restoring System State Data
(continued)

• These components should be backed up with
  standard backups and directed System State
  backups
• Cannot back up individual components
• To restore due to a corrupt Active Directory
  database, must restart and choose Directory
  Services Restore mode advanced startup
• To restore Active Directory objects, must use
  authoritative restore so that replication doesnt
  overwrite corrections

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Activity 12-4 Backing Up System State Data

• Objective To use the Windows Server 2003 Backup
  utility to back up System State data on a domain
  controller
• Open Backup in Advanced Mode
• Back up System State as directed
• Verify that System State is backed up and check
  the size of the file to better understand the
  amount of information needed for system state

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Shadow Copies of Shared Folders

• Purpose of this utility is to make recovery of
  user files in shared folders easy without
  requiring an administrator
• Advantages for users
• Restoration of accidentally deleted files
• Recovery of previous versions of files
• Comparison of previous version to current version
• Shadow Copies not enabled by default, must be
  explicitly enabled from Properties of a drive

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Shadow Copies of Shared Folders (continued)

• Shadow Copies is enabled for entire volume
  (cannot shadow specific files or folders)
• Copies are made on a pre-defined schedule
• By default, Shadow Copies uses 10 of available
  disk space (minimum 100 MB)
• When limit is reached, older copies are deleted

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Shadow Copies of Shared Folders (continued)
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Activity 12-5 Enabling and Configuring Shadow
Copies of Shared Folder Settings

• Create a new shared folder with appropriate
  permissions
• Create a text document in the folder
• Enable Shadow Copying
• Explore and configure settings and schedules

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Previous Versions

• Network users must install additional software on
  their systems to access previous versions of
  files via Shadow Copies
• Client software provided in MSI format at
  systemroot\system32\clients\twclient\X86 (for
  Intel-based system)
• Adds an additional tab (Previous Versions) to
  Properties of files stored in shared Folders

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Activity 12-6 Installing and Using the Previous
Versions Client

• Objective To install and use the Previous
  Versions Client and explore using it to restore a
  previous version of a file
• Locate and launch the installation file and
  complete installation
• Locate the Previous Versions tab in the
  Properties of the file created in Activity 12-5
• Review and restore the file using the Previous
  Versions dialog box

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Activity 12-6 (continued)
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Automated System Recovery

• This utility was introduced in Windows Server
  2003
• Main purpose is to restore a system to a
  functional state
• Allows user to restore system configuration
  settings, not data files
• Replaces ERD on earlier systems
• Two different elements
• ASR backup (accessed from Backup Utility)
• Floppy disk that contains information about
  backup, disk configuration, and how to perform a
  restore

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Automated System Recovery (continued)

• User data files should be backed up before ASR
  and restored after ASR
• ASR backup should be done whenever system
  configuration is changed
• ASR backup created using the Automated System
  Recovery Wizard
• To recover, boot from Windows CD, select Repair
  option, use ASR floppy and backup to restore
  settings

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Advanced Startup Options

• Used to troubleshoot startup problems
• Provides a safe mode
• Only loads the default minimal required Windows
  Server 2003 settings and device drivers
• Windows Advanced Startup Options is accessed
  during system startup
• Press F8 from Boot Loader Operating System
  Selection menu

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Advanced Startup Options (continued)
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Advanced Startup Options (continued)
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Activity 12-7 Viewing and Testing Advanced
Startup Options

• Objective To explore and test Windows Server
  2003 Advanced Startup Options
• Restart your computer and access the Windows
  Advanced Options Menu as directed
• Select Safe Mode and the appropriate operating
  system or profile and log on
• Explore pinging
• Reiterate these steps with Safe Mode with Command
  Prompt

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Last Known Good Configuration

• Allows you to recover from failed driver and
  registry changes
• You should not log on to your server if problems
  are evident during boot process because any
  incorrect configuration changes will update last
  known good configuration
• Cannot be used to resolve problems such as
  missing or corrupt files

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Activity 12-8 Testing Last Known Good
Configuration

• Objective To test the startup option for the
  last known good configuration
• Start ? right-click My Computer ? Properties ?
  Hardware ? Device Manager
• Open and disable network adapter and cd-rom or
  dvd drive
• Test pinging (network adapter disabled)
• Restart with Last Known Good Configuration
• Verify that devices are enabled

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The Recovery Console

• The Recovery Console is an advanced tool for
  experienced administrators
• It is used to
• Start and stop services
• Format drives
• Read and write data on a local hard drive
• Copy files from a floppy or CD to a local hard
  drive
• Perform administrative tasks

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Installing the Recovery Console

• Two ways to start Recovery Console
• Run it from CD after a serious error by booting
  from the CD
• Install on computer permanently
• Once it is installed, it will be an option in the
  list of available operating systems during the
  initial boot process
• Recovery Console can only be run by an
  administrator

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Installing the Recovery Console (continued)

• Variety of commands available through Recovery
  Console
• Use the Help command within the Console for a
  complete list of commands
• Common commands include copy, disable, enable,
  exit, fixboot, fixmbr, listsvc

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Activity 12-9 Installing and Using the Recovery
Console

• Objective to install and use the Recovery
  Console
• Install the Recovery Console as directed
• Restart the computer and start the Recovery
  Console
• Explore the command options in the Console
• Run the listsvc command
• Configure the RemoteAccess service
• Reboot as directed

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Summary

• Administrators prepare for disaster recovery
  through backups and startup recovery mechanisms
• Backup utility
• Normal, Incremental, Differential, Daily, and
  Copy
• Can back up System State
• Shadow Copies of Shared Folders gives users
  direct control over restoring deleted files or
  returning to previous versions of files

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Summary (continued)

• Automated System Recovery restores system
  configuration settings (not data files)
• Windows Server 2003 provides several Advanced
  Startup Options to troubleshoot boot problems
• Advanced Startup Options include
• Safe mode
• Last Known Good Configuration
• The Recovery Console is used for system recovery