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 HALP! Questions on Windows and Windows Server
 Windows Server 2008
 Using MS iSCSI target for bare metal backups...		  New Topic  Reply to Topic
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mikepiet
Honorable But Hopeless Addict

USA
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Posted - 08/11/2011 :  1:19:43 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
After bringing up a test server with direct attached storage hung off it, I am looking to see about testing out the iSCSI target software with Server 2008 R2. So far so good.

My question is this, if I use an iSCSI target for Windows built-in backup utility, creating Full System backup for bare metal recovery. Will I be out of luck if the system (OS partition) does in fact go down and I need to perform a recovery on a dead system disk, BUT, the backup is on an iSCSI target?

In this walk through here...http://www.wbadmin.info/articles/howto-bare-metal-restores-windows-server-2008-backup.html

...they indicate that "Windows will then scan your machine for available backups. Please ensure that the media with your backup is connected to the machine. If Windows Complete PC Restore is unable to find the backup, please try un-connecting and re-connecting the backup device."

Will the iSCSI target be connected at that point?

Just thinking this through before I put anything into place.

Thanks,
Michael
Sinners Make The Best Saints
Edited by - mikepiet on 08/11/2011 1:27:14 PM

cj_berlin
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Germany
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Posted - 08/11/2011 :  2:20:43 PM  Show Profile  Visit cj_berlin's Homepage  Look at the Skype address for cj_berlin  Reply with Quote
Not if you'd be using the software initiator. If you happen to have am iSCSI HBA in your server, you can configure the target at BIOS level and THEN you can use it for restore.
Evgenij Smirnov
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mikepiet
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USA
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Posted - 08/11/2011 :  2:49:27 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi Evgenij,

Yup, looks as though my further research on the interwebs has confirmed the same.

BUT, I did find an interesting workaround in the MS forums. I am going to test shortly...

1) On a network connected computer use the iscsi initiator to connect to the iscsi target that housed the Windows 2008 system backup.

2) Using Windows share the newly connected drive on the network.

3) Boot your new hardware from the 2K8 install disk.

4) At the install Windows screen Select your regional settings and Next

5) Select Repair your computer

6) System Recovery Options should be blank for BRM, click Next

7) Select Windows Complete PC Restore

8) At the alert window select cancel

9) Select Restore a different backup and Next

10) Click Advanced and Search for a backup on the network

11) Select yes to connect to the network

12) Enter the unc path to the computer and share above and OK

13) Enter your credentials and OK

14) Select the backup and Next

15) Select the backup time to restore to and Next

16) Next

17) Finish (note the drive you restore to will need to be at least the same size as the drive that the computer was imaged from)

18) Confirm that you want to format the new drive and OK
Sinners Make The Best Saints
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