Hi, I am looking for some advice regarding backing-up and restoring of an Win Server 2003 operating system. A client has asked me to replace their existing server which is running Windows Server 2003. As I am not super competent with this operating system I thought the best approach maybe to create an image of the existing os and then to copy this on the new box. Or perhaps I should use the backup and restore feature if thee is one? I know XP like the back of my hand but not Server 2003. Is there a great leap of faith involved? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Rob.

You can use imaging software like Acronis or Symantec which will allow you to do a bare metal restore to a dissimilar system. Alternatively Windows2003 has NTbackup that will allow you to do a file and folders/system state and exchange store to storage media (not CD/DVD) Myself personally i would build a fresh box and swing the data to the new server. This eliminates all issues regarding architecture drivers etc and gives you a fresh clean build and baseline. Once the server is live image it and store that image away preferably off site. Then copy that image and make incremental backups to it (symantec backup exec system restore/recovery). This would give you an ample DR scenario as well as clean baseline, short backup window (incremental) and granular restore capabilities from the image.

I wouldn't try copying an image over. Unless the hardware is exactly the same, you'll have issues with it. I have done this in the past where a client upgraded to newer hardware and always ported the data across manually. It's a little slower certainly, but it rules out issues with hardware and drivers etc and allows one to start the new server "clean". In all honesty, if you feel you're in over your depth with 2003 I would take a serious look at hiring a consultant to do it for you.

Technology keeps changing. I would have agreed with you CurtR except for this concerning the bare metal restore. http://www.acronis.com/promo/ATIW/t...

Acronis is a good program but you better know what you're doing. Their tech support is non-existent. Still waiting after 3 months for an answer to an issue I e-mailed and phoned them about. And paid EXTRA for, no less. Worst, absolutely the worst, tech support I've ever seen. And that's saying a lot. A man can be happy with any woman as long as he does not love her. > - Oscar Wilde