Re: SBS 2003 Mirror OS Drive Question

Let me be blunt (and no, you aren't gonna like my answer)

If you do not have time to do the job right (or call in a specialist) then you shouldn't proceed *at all.* Leave the system as-is, reschedule with the client, take the time to learn the product, and do the switch-over later. It'll even give you time to research inexpensive RAID cards and get them into a better solution.

As far as having a backup goes, it is UNTESTED. Based on your other thread asking how to back up exchange, I am not at all confident that your backup is reliable, and unless you've had to restore it already, you can’t claim with certainty that it is either. Those are the facts. You'd be best served leaving the system alone until you *can* verify your disaster recovery plan....because losing customer data is a great way to lose a customer...permanently.

Which brings me to my last point: This is a great forum for IT Admins or consultants when they "get stuck." It happens to all of us. But it is no replacement for educating yourself on a product. How the disk management snap-in works? Basic server admin stuff there, and not SBS specific. How to back up exchange? Again, basic Exchange knowledge there, and again not SBS specific. If you are in the business of supporting computers, and I can presume you are as you called the server's owner a "client" in your original post, then you need to invest in your business. Buy some books. Take some classes. But it is not wise to come here and ask for free education from those of us who *have* invested time and money in improving our skills so you can increase your profit margins. You'll find that many people, not just me, take an unkind view towards those people that engage in such activity.

So that is my advice and help on this continuing situation. Stop what you are doing, revert, educate, and then proceed. It is the *only* way you can truly give your clients the service they deserve.

-Cliff


"Northwest Upgrades Plus" <andyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(donotspam)> wrote in message news:BD4711EE-283E-457B-944A-EFFE94FAA0F3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
So are you saying I do not want the disk to be dismounted? I do not have time
to call in a specialist. I have to have this back tommorrow morning. I have a
full backup, so if anything goes wrong I can always go back to that. I would
just rather not have to go that route.
--
Thanks for your help.


"Cliff Galiher" wrote:

It is time for you to call in a specialist. You can learn from them, but
going this alone is heading towards disaster.

-Cliff


"Northwest Upgrades Plus" <andyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(donotspam)> wrote in
message news:E6C1C9EE-022C-4476-B3C2-621D79BBA244@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Before I continue I figured I better ask this question. When I go to
> convert
> the OS *** to Dynamic, It states that the File System will be > dismounted.
> Is
> this wat I want to do???? Please advise.
> -- > Thanks for your help.
>
>
> "SuperGumby [SBS MVP]" wrote:
>
>> OK (been distracted with another project so maybe I'm not paying as >> much
>> attention as I should).
>>
>> But you're not gonna use hardware RAID (heck, for the cost of a SCSI
>> RAID1
>> controller you _should_) so your end result will be dynamic disks >> anyway.
>>
>> Change the current HDD to dynamic type. I've never know this to fail >> but
>> standard caveat, 'have a good backup...' and of course, YMMV.
>> Establish RAID1 of your existing partition(s) to the new drive.
>> follow on about removal of the old and RAID rebuild to the 2nd new,
>> additional space as new partition.
>>
>> -- >> SBS remote support services. (Fees apply)
>> mickm at mickmalloy dot dyndns dot org
>> "Northwest Upgrades Plus" <andyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(donotspam)> wrote >> in
>> message news:63FF12B0-21AD-4F0C-9830-0C84F9B22C9F@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> > Not sure that you read the entire first post. Their is currently >> > only
>> > one
>> > drive with the OS on it, so if I remove it, here is only the data
>> > drivess
>> > that are installed. Is a solution still viable via software?
>> > -- >> > Thanks for your help.
>> >
>> >
>> > "SuperGumby [SBS MVP]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> OK, my assumptions got the better of me when I assumed this was
>> >> hardware
>> >> RAID. Your solution is EASY. Your drives are already dynamic.
>> >>
>> >> Take drive0 (the first of your software RAID1 set) out and place it >> >> in
>> >> an
>> >> antistatic bag on the shelf. DO NOT adjust the RAID in software.
>> >> Ensure you can boot from drive1. The system should come up clean >> >> with
>> >> a
>> >> missing member to the array.
>> >> Shutdown and put one of your new drives in, on a higher SCSI ID >> >> than
>> >> the
>> >> remaining drive, start up, rebuild the mirror(s) to the new drive,
>> >> allow
>> >> time to complete.
>> >> Shutdown, remove your 2nd original drive, boot off the new drive.
>> >> Shutdown, add 2nd new drive (at a higher SCSI ID again) repeat
>> >> rebuild.
>> >>
>> >> This should result in the existing partitons being copied to the >> >> new
>> >> drives,
>> >> use the additional space as new partition(s) and move stuff out of >> >> the
>> >> original partition(s).
>> >>
>> >> For most of the time the system will be available. I'd probably do >> >> the
>> >> 2st
>> >> drive replacement tomorrow morning, rebuild during the day, do the >> >> 2nd
>> >> replacement and rebuild either that afternoon or the next day.
>> >>
>> >> The 1st drive you took out is your fallback point. Should anything >> >> go
>> >> wrong
>> >> you remove all drives, put drive0 back in, boot.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> -- >> >> SBS remote support services. (Fees apply)
>> >> mickm at mickmalloy dot dyndns dot org
>> >> "Northwest Upgrades Plus" <andyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(donotspam)> >> >> wrote
>> >> in
>> >> message news:32DD4124-6664-4DCC-B753-510A69D6765B@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> > They use Backup For Workgroups, not the SBS Backup software. It >> >> > has
>> >> > a
>> >> > pretty
>> >> > good disaster recovery option, so I will most likely go that >> >> > route.
>> >> > I
>> >> > have
>> >> > to
>> >> > use Software mirroring, as they do not have a RAID controller. >> >> > All
>> >> > that
>> >> > is
>> >> > available is the Adaptec SCSI controller card. Once again, they >> >> > are
>> >> > on
>> >> > a
>> >> > TIGHT budget. Thamks for the help.
>> >> >
>> >> > ( I just dit not appreciate the first comments in Cliff's post)
>> >> > -- >> >> > Thanks for your help.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > "SuperGumby [SBS MVP]" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> I don't really think Cliff's comment was as harsh as you may be
>> >> >> taking
>> >> >> it.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> The DR route (method 3) doesn't actually take a long time. You >> >> >> only
>> >> >> need
>> >> >> install the base OS from SBS, and your current Windows SP, not >> >> >> all
>> >> >> CD's
>> >> >> and
>> >> >> fully configured.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Some HDD suppliers have 'drive imaging' software, mainly >> >> >> designed
>> >> >> for
>> >> >> workstation OS's but in fact OS agnostic.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Are you using SBSBackup or some other backup program?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> -- >> >> >> SBS remote support services. (Fees apply)
>> >> >> mickm at mickmalloy dot dyndns dot org
>> >> >> "Northwest Upgrades Plus" <andyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(donotspam)>
>> >> >> wrote
>> >> >> in
>> >> >> message >> >> >> news:C2FF0FB0-02A9-4B17-8EE4-466F287AECC8@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> >> > Yes, But I would have to reinstall SBS 2003 and then the >> >> >> > backup
>> >> >> > software
>> >> >> > and
>> >> >> > then do the restore. What 3rd party SW do you recommend for >> >> >> > SBS
>> >> >> > 2003? I
>> >> >> > have
>> >> >> > used Drive COpy before, but if I am not mistaken it does not
>> >> >> > support
>> >> >> > SBS.
>> >> >> > Thanks for the help, unlike Chris.
>> >> >> > -- >> >> >> > Thanks for your help.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > "SuperGumby [SBS MVP]" wrote:
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> I'd probably build a new array as an additional RAID1 and
>> >> >> >> either:
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> (officially unsupported by MS) Use some form of drive >> >> >> >> copy/image
>> >> >> >> program
>> >> >> >> to
>> >> >> >> get the existing partitions across to the new array OR
>> >> >> >> (MS Supported but involves changing to 'dynamic' type) Use
>> >> >> >> software
>> >> >> >> mirroring to RAID1 between the arrays.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> The 3rd method is actually the best, allows full testing of >> >> >> >> your
>> >> >> >> disaster
>> >> >> >> recovery plan (to same hardware). Perform full backup, shut >> >> >> >> her
>> >> >> >> down,
>> >> >> >> throw
>> >> >> >> in the blank drives, create your array, restore.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> -- >> >> >> >> SBS remote support services. (Fees apply)
>> >> >> >> mickm at mickmalloy dot dyndns dot org
>> >> >> >> "Cliff Galiher" <cgaliher@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> >> >> >> news:et$of0l5JHA.1096@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> >> >> > The snarky answer is: Shouldn't you have had a plan in >> >> >> >> > place
>> >> >> >> > *before*
>> >> >> >> > selling a client a solution?
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > The real (and short) answer is: It depends entirely on your
>> >> >> >> > RAID
>> >> >> >> > controller. Some allow this, some don't. You'd be best >> >> >> >> > served
>> >> >> >> > referencing
>> >> >> >> > their documentation.
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > -Cliff
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > "Northwest Upgrades Plus"
>> >> >> >> > <andyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(donotspam)>
>> >> >> >> > wrote
>> >> >> >> > in
>> >> >> >> > message
>> >> >> >> > news:13B06C3D-6740-436A-8F96-C95F3E952E15@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> >> >> >> OK, So here is the situation. After years of trying I have
>> >> >> >> >> finally
>> >> >> >> >> been
>> >> >> >> >> able
>> >> >> >> >> to convince my client to mirror their SBS 2003 Standard
>> >> >> >> >> Operating
>> >> >> >> >> System
>> >> >> >> >> drive. They currently have 1 Ea. 36 GB 68 Pin SCSI drive.
>> >> >> >> >> They
>> >> >> >> >> will
>> >> >> >> >> be
>> >> >> >> >> replaced with 2 Ea. 72 GB 68 Pin SCSI drives. My question >> >> >> >> >> is
>> >> >> >> >> this:
>> >> >> >> >> Is
>> >> >> >> >> it
>> >> >> >> >> possible to create a mirror and copy the old OS drive to >> >> >> >> >> the
>> >> >> >> >> new
>> >> >> >> >> Mirror,
>> >> >> >> >> or
>> >> >> >> >> perhaps create the mirror with one of the new drives and >> >> >> >> >> the
>> >> >> >> >> old
>> >> >> >> >> OS
>> >> >> >> >> drive
>> >> >> >> >> first and then remove the old drive and add the second >> >> >> >> >> 72GB
>> >> >> >> >> drive?
>> >> >> >> >> I
>> >> >> >> >> really
>> >> >> >> >> do not want to go through the hassle of reinstalling the >> >> >> >> >> OS
>> >> >> >> >> and
>> >> >> >> >> then
>> >> >> >> >> having
>> >> >> >> >> to restore it from backup in disaster recovery mode. >> >> >> >> >> Thanks
>> >> >> >> >> for
>> >> >> >> >> any
>> >> >> >> >> help,
>> >> >> >> >> suggestions or links to documents that anyone can provide.
>> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> >> >> >> Thanks for your help.
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>

.