Local DR test.
I want to perform the following test at my customers request. Let me know if you think I could get into any trouble.
I want to shut off all servers on the network, bring up one server on the virtualized DR device (Datto Sirus) with its real LAN IP and one workstation to make sure it can login to the server and open a few Office Documents.
I know that if this was a Exchange server for example, and I brought it up "live" for a test, that if I didn't take precautions, it could pull email to the test server that will never make it to the production server when it I turned back on.
The server I want to test, with it's real LAN IP, is the Domain Controller holding the FSMO roles, has Active Directory, DNS Server, DHCP server Roles and is a File server with shares. There are no other user applications except the backup to the DR device. All other workstations and servers (application servers and other domain controllers) will be off. Only one workstation will be turned on, login to the server and access the file share to open a few word and excel documents. Then I want to shut down the 'test' server and bring all the production servers and workstations. I do NOT want to get into a situation where I need to restore the production server from the DR device...just test a virtualization for a few minutes. Is there anything I should be concerned about doing this test?
Thank you,
I want to shut off all servers on the network, bring up one server on the virtualized DR device (Datto Sirus) with its real LAN IP and one workstation to make sure it can login to the server and open a few Office Documents.
I know that if this was a Exchange server for example, and I brought it up "live" for a test, that if I didn't take precautions, it could pull email to the test server that will never make it to the production server when it I turned back on.
The server I want to test, with it's real LAN IP, is the Domain Controller holding the FSMO roles, has Active Directory, DNS Server, DHCP server Roles and is a File server with shares. There are no other user applications except the backup to the DR device. All other workstations and servers (application servers and other domain controllers) will be off. Only one workstation will be turned on, login to the server and access the file share to open a few word and excel documents. Then I want to shut down the 'test' server and bring all the production servers and workstations. I do NOT want to get into a situation where I need to restore the production server from the DR device...just test a virtualization for a few minutes. Is there anything I should be concerned about doing this test?
Thank you,
Why not just do a test in isolation?
Which Siris model do you have? The ones I have used have multiple NIC's so you could assign it a NIC on a separate LAN (to avoid any disruption to your backup schedule) and then connect to an isolated switch
You could then add an existing PC to the same switch and test its ability to login.
I assume the current Datto startup/screenshot tests for the DC power it on without issue?...
Which Siris model do you have? The ones I have used have multiple NIC's so you could assign it a NIC on a separate LAN (to avoid any disruption to your backup schedule) and then connect to an isolated switch
You could then add an existing PC to the same switch and test its ability to login.
I assume the current Datto startup/screenshot tests for the DC power it on without issue?...
ASKER
Its a Sirus 5000. The startup and screen shots are good. I was thinking that HAD to keep the IPs the REAL lan IPs because the server is configured for DNS and DHCP.
Are you suggesting:
Since I'm only trying to open docs on the server. I could statically IP the workstation in the same subnet as the server (in isolation) to bypass DHCP. I could access server shares using a HOST file on the workstation or browse to the servers temporary IP address to bypass DNS?
Thank you
Are you suggesting:
Since I'm only trying to open docs on the server. I could statically IP the workstation in the same subnet as the server (in isolation) to bypass DHCP. I could access server shares using a HOST file on the workstation or browse to the servers temporary IP address to bypass DNS?
Thank you
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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There should be no problems with this that I can see, where the DC is located during power up should not matter, and the fact the others servers are off during this test, they will not be affected at all.
Ensure that the networking in the DR site is the same and there is network availability between workstation and DC obviously. Once test is done, power off and move back.
Regards