Is there a good inexpensive way to image a Windows 2016 server while online?
Hi,
I have a Windows Server 2016 that a 2 TB SSD has been installed in. Is there a way to image this server to this SSD online and then have the old HDD disconnected and the SSD boot up normally? I'm trying to perform this remotely so I don't have to be on-site to image the drive with an imager. I use StorageCraft software but not on this system in particular. But I could buy ShadowProtect SPX. Would this allow me to do this or is there a better or less expensive way of doing this? As ShadowProtect SPX Server lists for $1095 and this is a one time image. Thanks in advance for your help!
I have a Windows Server 2016 that a 2 TB SSD has been installed in. Is there a way to image this server to this SSD online and then have the old HDD disconnected and the SSD boot up normally? I'm trying to perform this remotely so I don't have to be on-site to image the drive with an imager. I use StorageCraft software but not on this system in particular. But I could buy ShadowProtect SPX. Would this allow me to do this or is there a better or less expensive way of doing this? As ShadowProtect SPX Server lists for $1095 and this is a one time image. Thanks in advance for your help!
I would not recommend doing this while the server is online. This is tantamount to trying to replace a plane engine mid-flight. Even in a stable OS, the system partition is in a constant state of flux and taking an image while online unnecessarily (or more accurately restoring an image that has since changed) is a bad idea when it can be avoided. Schedule a maintenance window.
Cliff, "real" imaging software is able to work on a snapshot and create a consistent copy. People would have hell on earth if it were different...
I am aware. It's how 99% of backups work since VSS became a thing.
But again, backups are restored red after a disaster. Aka no other choice. The backup Kay he *consistent* but it won't include changes since the snapshot (changes that can occur *DURING* the backup.
I'm comfortable from experience that imaging from a running system is best avoided *when possible.* There is a reasoj, MDT, for example l, does the image capture from a PE environment instead of the running system. It wasn't absolutely necessary, but it is less error prone.
But again, backups are restored red after a disaster. Aka no other choice. The backup Kay he *consistent* but it won't include changes since the snapshot (changes that can occur *DURING* the backup.
I'm comfortable from experience that imaging from a running system is best avoided *when possible.* There is a reasoj, MDT, for example l, does the image capture from a PE environment instead of the running system. It wasn't absolutely necessary, but it is less error prone.
Offline images are less prone to errors and faster, that one is true. A backup however is not the same as a live clone - backups just need to be consistent, live clones need to be accurately reflect the system state at all times.
Current HDD-to-SSD cloning software does not just create a snapshot, that wouldn't work.
So it is important not to choose a backup type of imaging software if intending this kind of cloning.
Current HDD-to-SSD cloning software does not just create a snapshot, that wouldn't work.
So it is important not to choose a backup type of imaging software if intending this kind of cloning.
ASKER
Robert, thanks for the recommendation. I'll give it a try.
Cliff, thanks for your wisdom. I know it's definitely not ideal. But, the office is very small and typically there's not more than three users using the server at a time. I can have them all log off and turn off the database services on the server. I'm doing this to see if I have the ability to mirror a running server drive remotely and then be able to boot using that drive that has been mirrored to.
Cliff, thanks for your wisdom. I know it's definitely not ideal. But, the office is very small and typically there's not more than three users using the server at a time. I can have them all log off and turn off the database services on the server. I'm doing this to see if I have the ability to mirror a running server drive remotely and then be able to boot using that drive that has been mirrored to.
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I have frequently used it to do drive clones to SSD, you can install it and run the clone while server is on or you can create a bootable USB/CD and clone the drive offline. They have a free and a pro version. (both versions have the ability to clone a drive or backup a drive to an image for later restore)
Time for the clone varies depending on how much data you have on the drive but on average about 50 gig on a workstation takes about 15 minutes.