I've got an intriguing goal with an equally intriguing problem to overcome: how to restore an OS to a set of blank disks attached to a running computer. This computer is running the very OS I want to restore to the blank disks, and I when the restore is complete, I want to be able to bring the new disks online as if nothing had happened.
Our current setup:
Windows Server 2003
- Backup Exec 10d backup server with an accessible backup of the C:\ and shadow copy components of the R2 server
- Primary DC
Windows Server 2003 R2 server
- System partition running on software RAID 1 (read:dynamic disks) (C:\)
- An empty RAID 1 basic, primary NTFS partition running off a hardware controller (E:\)
- Secondary DC
What I'd like to do
Without disturbing the software RAID partition, restore a recent backup of the R2 server to the partition on the hardware RAID controller and unplug the software RAID partitions, effectively switching from software RAID to hardware RAID. Ideally, the server will boot to the new drive, which should then be the standard C:\, and life will continue as if nothing happened.
Effectively, what I'm trying to do is 'install' an OS from a backup to an empty set of disks by simply restoring a backup to the empty disks, nothing else (seems simple, doesn't it?)
A couple of concerns I have:
- I don't trust Backup Exec 10d to do things logically, due to past experience: if I elect to restore the shadow copy components of the remote server, will it restore them to the remote server (good), or to the local Backup Exec 10d server (bad)?
- (if the above is SCC redirect properly, then:) If I elect to redirect the backup, will the shadow copy components be redirected to the new disks as well?
- All else failing, or because there's a simpler way, what other options do I have?