Chapter12 Managing And Implementing Backups And Disaster Recovery

Managing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment

Chapter 12: Managing and Implementing

Backups and Disaster Recovery

2

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

3

Objectives (continued)

• Understand Windows Server 2003 advanced startup options

• Install and use the Recovery Console

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

Backup and Restore Concepts (continued)

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

9

Backup Types

• Backup types include:• Normal backup

• Incremental backup

• Differential backup

• Daily backup

• Copy backup

10

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

11

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

12

Incremental Backup (continued)

13

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

14

Differential Backup (continued)

15

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 doesn’t

change the archive attribute

• Intended as a backup that will not interrupt other backup procedures (perhaps an archival copy)

16

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

17

Using the Backup Utility (continued)

18

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

19

Activity 12-1 (continued)

20

Activity 12-1 (continued)

21

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

22

Activity 12-2 (continued)

23

Scheduling Backups

• Backups can be scheduled to occur without interaction from an administrator

• Can schedule backups daily, weekly, monthly, predefined times, predefined days

24

Scheduling Backups (continued)

25

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

26

Activity 12-3 (continued)

27

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)

28

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 doesn’t overwrite corrections

29

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

30

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

31

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

32

Shadow Copies of Shared Folders (continued)

33

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

34

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

35

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

36

Activity 12-6 (continued)

37

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

38

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

39

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

40

Advanced Startup Options (continued)

41

Advanced Startup Options (continued)

42

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

43

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

44

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

45

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

46

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

47

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

48

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

49

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

50

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