Best TOTAL Backup... Want to clone a complete drive to a new HD ....

[Cain]

My Company server runs on a WHS machine I built....

How can I backup or clone the complete drive so if it fails I will not have to manually reload WHS, all the drivers, and redo all the Server configurations??

I want some way to completely clone this drive onto a brand new drive in case of drive failure...

I back-up all my data files into a RAID mirrored drive, so speedy recovery of my data will be easy, but I don;t want to have to completely rebuild the server itself, with all its drivers, user accesses, file permissione web server, Web Dav server and settings etc...

Help, there has got to be an easy way to do this...

Thanks!!!

-- Cain

[juneau]

www.acronis.com

[Apache Warrior]

I use Acronis.
Apache

[flu1d]

Clonezilla or Microsoft's IMAGEX. Both free.

[WalkinTarget]

That's the only real hassle of WHS - the inability to back up its bootable drive. Otherwise it does a great job at backing up customer PCs. You have to be careful of a system backup, as WHS will create a different system ID for the backup drive. See here for details:

http://forum.wegotserved.com/index.p...g-system-disk/

[Jonjolt]

I use Acronis because it came free with one of my HD's other than that the only thing I backup is a SQL Server, on a RAID 6 + Online Drive, (I was thinking of getting a second online back up provider but theat may be a bit too paranoid).

[HeHeHeGS]

We use StorageCraft ShadowProtect in my office, but it is a enterprise solution, and not cheep.

You could always use Clonezilla, it is free and should be good enough for a bare metal back up.

[Quamin]

Acronis if you can get it

[FrostyWalrus]

Clonezilla and Acronis all the way. Easy to learn and understand if you have trouble with backups.

[Cain]

Thanks gang...

I'll look at Acronis. I am currently using a FREE WD Version, I guess I'll spring for the full version, that is on sale this week.

[Zantheus]

Yup Acronis is the "in" thing

[Cain]

I just bought Arconis on sale until tomorrow and FREE Plus pack....

Thanks for the suggestion folks!!

[Apache Warrior]

Apache

[Jonjolt]

I just bought Arconis on sale until tomorrow and FREE Plus pack....

Thanks for the suggestion folks!!

I'd also recommend making an unattended install, with updates slip streamed and separate back ups of any config files. Along with a complete Cloned harddisk. And all with online backup, I use Carbonite so far no breach of my ToS from backing up my HD every month plus daily incremental.

Take it from someone who has had countless HD failures , I was even lucky to have 2 HD's fail in the same RAID 1

Some software can be touchy aka UPS Worldship

[Dead_And_Gone]

I've had HD failures... Thanks guys for all the suggestions..

It IS tough to start all over, even if you aren't hosting a server