Chapter 17. Managing and Implementing Disaster Recovery

Objectives

This chapter covers the following Microsoft-specified objectives for the "Managing and Implementing Disaster Recovery" section of the Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment exam:

Manage backup procedures

• Verify the successful completion of backup jobs.

• Manage backup storage media.

• The purpose of this objective is to teach you how to use the various tools available in Windows Server 2003 to back up your server. In addition, you should be familiar with the various strategies for dealing with backup media rotations.

Restore backup data

• When working in a Windows Server 2003 environment, it is important that you not only have a thorough understanding of backup procedures but also of restoring the data on a server.

Schedule backup jobs

• When working in a Windows Server 2003 environment, it is important that you have a thorough understanding of the performance characteristics of your servers. This way, it is easier to identify potential problems before they cause outages.

Perform system recovery for a server

• Implement Automated System Recovery (ASR).

• Restore data from shadow copy volumes.

• Back up files and system state data to media.

• Configure security for backup operations.

• The purpose of this objective is to teach you how to recover both system and user data on your Windows Server 2003 server. You must be able to use the built-in tools to ensure that your data is available at all times.

Recover from server hardware failure

• Although not as common as it once was, because of the improvements in server hardware reliability over the years, server hardware failure is an event that you must still be prepared to handle. Hardware failures can range from a simple disk failure to the destruction of a server because of a catastrophe.

Outline

Introduction			757
Using Windows Backup			757
	Volume Shadow Copy		758
	Types of Backups		759
		Normal	759
		Copy	759
		Daily	759
		Differential	760
		Incremental	760
	System State Backups		769
	Scheduling Backup Jobs		771
	Back Up from the Command Line		775
	Configuring Security for Backup Operations		778
	Verifying the Successful Completion of Backup Jobs		780
	Restoring Backup Data		781
	Restoring System State Data		784
Using Other Recovery Tools			786
	Restoring Data from Shadow Copy Volumes		787
	Advanced Options Menu		792
		Last Known Good Configuration	794
		Safe Mode	795
	Recovery Console		797
	Using Directory Services Restore Mode to Recover System State Data		801
	Implementing Automated System Recovery (ASR)		807
Planning for Disaster Recovery			810
	Implementing and Using Good Backup Procedures		811
	Managing and Rotating Backup Storage Media		812
Chapter Summary			814
	Key Terms		814
Apply Your Knowledge			814

Study Strategies

• The sections in this chapter outline features that are essential to using and managing a Windows Server 2003 environment. The backup and restoration of data are common tasks that you can expect to be heavily emphasized on the test.

• Expect to see a number of questions on two new features introduced in Windows Server 2003: Automated System Recovery (ASR) and the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS). Know how both features work, under what circumstances they should be used, and how to implement them.

• Understand the different types of system recovery available and under what circumstances each one should be used. Know the differences between Safe Mode, the Recovery Console, and Last Known Good Configuration, as well as when each should be used.

• Know how to use the Windows Server 2003 Backup utility, including how to back up and restore both user data and the system state information. Know what data is saved as system state data on domain controllers and member servers. In addition, know how to schedule the backup to run unattended.