windows backup in server 2003 (without ASR and with shadow copy enabled)

[nova2]

I backed up a server I'm running using MS windows server 2003 windows backup. Backed up the whole HDD (1 partition exists only - c drive )

my question is

if the HDD fails, I should be able to restore all c drive data from this backup file onto a new/similar HDD,
and be done with restoration, and the server can go back online after I fix the MBR -- right?

> shadow copy: my understanding is that, even if a file is being written to nearly 24/7, the backup program will still be able to backup the file thanks to shadow copy, altho the file may be somewhat older,
so thus basically I won't need ASR.)

I am not doing an ASR style backup, as this server has no floppy drive, and also bcuz that backup type is not useful without the ASR data files.

 

[RebateMonger]

With a single disk and single volume, there's really no need for ASR. Even if you DO need it, full system backups include the necessary ASR files even though you didn't specify an ASR backup.

In general, a full NTBackup, one that includes the System State, will get your server back running and will restore data files from the time of the start of the backup. If you are running Exchange Server, SQL Server, or non-VSS-aware databases, you might want to ask more questions. Server 2003 doesn't like doing a SIMULTANEOUS backup of both System State AND Exchange Server, unless you are running Small Business Server 2003.

 

[nova2]

non-VSS aware databases, thanks for mentioning that - i will keep that in mind for the future.