Windows Server Backup Options: Full vs Bare metal restore

ITAdmin55 21 Reputation points
2021-02-11T15:51:12.93+00:00

Hello! This question is in regards to the scenario where my domain controller has crashed completely. It cannot be turned back on, and I must restore it to different hardware or a different system. Within Windows Server Backup I see two backup options that seem to serve this purpose but are not exactly the same: "Full server backup" and "Bare metal restore".

Which option provides the best chance of a bare metal recovery for a Domain Controller? Thanks..and some info below..

https://video2.skills-academy.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2008-R2-and-2008/dd979562(v=ws.10)?redirectedfrom=MSDN
That Microsoft article states that "In the case of disasters like hard disk failures, you can perform a system recovery or bare metal recovery by using a full server or a bare metal recovery backup and the Windows Recovery Environment—this will restore your complete system onto the new hard disk." (I haven't found much details as to which option is better)

Windows Server Backup
Windows Server Backup
Windows Server: A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.Backup: A duplicate copy of a program, a disk, or data, made either for archiving purposes or for safeguarding valuable files from loss should the active copy be damaged or destroyed.
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  1. Michal Barták 231 Reputation points
    2021-02-11T17:54:32.877+00:00
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  2. ITAdmin55 21 Reputation points
    2021-02-11T18:10:00.613+00:00

    Hello @Michal Barták . That link answered part of what I was curious about - "Full Backup" includes everything that bare metal would give you, therefore Full Backup would backup everything.

    That link states that "According to the Microsoft, we could do bare metal restore to the same physical computer , or to a different physical computer that has the same make, model, and configuration (identical hardware). It is not support to restore from one computer to a second computer of a different make, model, or hardware configuration."

    https://video2.skills-academy.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/ad-forest-recovery-backing-up-a-full-server

    I then found another link from Microsoft that says the following below, which states the opposite...

    A full server backup is recommended to prepare for a forest recovery because it can be restored to different hardware or a different operating system instance. Using Windows Server Backup you can perform a full backup of your server.

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  3. Michal Barták 231 Reputation points
    2021-02-11T18:51:43.293+00:00

    Hm ok I hope I understand correctly. There is a guide on how to restore AD Forest which I believe is your case (having only 1 DC).

    The guide is here:
    https://video2.skills-academy.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/ad-forest-recovery-perform-a-full-recovery

    In conclusion Full backup is required, which includes bare metal, system state, disks.

    You could possible modify the backup by deselecting data disks if you do not need them. But if you have a single DC I would say you use this server for DC only so for peace of mind, Full backup of your DC. Then as you stated and also mentioned in the links could be restored to a different hardware.

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