Server 2003 application restore? I think

[djplayer]

Trying to help someone out and they're being way to sketchy w/ the details which may just be clouding my thinking..

I do know a couple things.. it's running raid5, they use an additional tape backup system. It sounds like something crashed.. But again.. I'm not sure. I'm going to assume that the system runs a full backup every night to tape drive and HD. The question that keeps being posed to me is.. "can I restore all programs and data on another computer from the tape backup?"

I'm pretty sure we're not talking SQL or an Exchange server.. but it definitely could some sort of billing program that stores information in it's on proprietary DB. I know, the information I have is very sketchy and that's part of my problem. I'm tempted to say install server on a remote desktop, restore and find out.. but.. trying to be nice.

 

[RebateMonger]

First thing is to determine what you have to work with. Assuming you have full backups is quite possibly a wrong assumption.

I'd examine the backup hard drive content and the tape content (you'll have to install the tape drive somewhere) and see what's on them.

Why do you need to install the server on other hardware. Isn't the original server hardware repairable? Assuming you have full backups, a restoration back onto the original hardware is the most reliable way.

Also, find out what was installed on the server. Active Directory? How many clients? If it's a nearly-bare Server 2000x installation, it shouldn't be tough to simply re-install Server 200x and re-install the database application and the database. Now if they don't have install disks or license keys, that's a different story and part of the fun.

Restoration of a trashed server and its databases isn't really a good place to learn on. I suggest they find someone with experience in such things.

 

[djplayer]

I can further clarify just a little bit. They're contracted through a company that technically handles this.. but still the question is posed to me.. oh well.

It "sounds" like there is a 3rd party piece of software on their server. It sounds like it's installed on that server. I am assuming that they are running a full backup to tape drive weekly. So if their building burns down. Is that tape drive all that is needed to get everything back up and running..

So part of the situation as you stated: Is we're talking no installation disks, and we're probably talking about no key code.

So this whole scenario sounds to be more of a hypothetical situation.

 

[RebateMonger]

Anyway, it MIGHT be possible to restore the server and application to different hardware IF there's a full backup somewhere. If you can fix the original hardware, it'd be best before attempting a recovery.

Microsoft: How to perform a disaster recovery restoration of Active directory on a computer with a different hardware configuration.

Basically, what you are doing is:
1) Installing Server 2003 from scratch
2) Restoring the full backup
3) Testing to see if it boots in either Normal or Safe Mode
4) If necessary, performing a Reinstallation of Server 2003 to load the correct drivers for the hardware
5) If necessary, disabling ACPI on the system and telling Server 2003 to boot with the Standard PC HAL during the next boot (F7)

Note that, depending on the application, reinstalling it on another PC MIGHT be as easy as copying the program's folder to another PC and running it from there. That MIGHT work. It all depends...