Performing Remote Backups and Restores of AD
As I mentioned, Win2K's built-in backup program supports only local backups of AD, so you can't use the program to back up and restore the System State on a remote system. However, you can use Win2K Server Terminal Services to overcome this limitation—simply perform the restore through a terminal window as if you were at the machine.
To perform a remote recovery of a DC that's accessible through a terminal connection, access the DC's boot.ini file through the connection and add the /safeboot:dsrepair switch at the end of the default Advanced RISC Computing (ARC) path, as Figure 3 shows. Then, you can proceed with the restore operations.
Plan for the Worst
AD recovery includes several considerations that you should be aware of. The best way to save time and prevent stress when you need to recover AD is to have a prepared plan. As anyone who has ever had to restore a failed server knows, the process is never as easy as it's supposed to be. However, having an AD disaster-recovery plan will make it a little easier.
Corrections to this Article:
- In "AD Disaster Recovery" (August 2001), Listing 1: Ntdsutil Cleanup Command Sequence is missing one line. The line before the last one (Remove selected server) should be Quit. The correct listing is available for downloading at http://wwww.win2000mag.com. Enter 21509 in the InstantDoc ID text box to download the 21509 zip file. We apologize for any inconvenience these errors might have caused.