Good i.e. cheap software for imaging a Win2003 server

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lchiu7

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#45878 4-Nov-2009 11:48

I am looking at for some cheap yet robust software for imaing a Win2003 server. The server is just used as a Blackberry server and given we don't add/delete users very often, as a backup mechanism, if the server goes down, I would like to be able to take an image of the server and put it on another machine.

I like Acronis for home use (has saved by butt on a number of times) but for Windows Server the US$899 price per server seems a bit high. Of course I could use the home product by removing the drive from the server and imaging on a desktop and if the server died, just put the imaged drive into a new server but it seems messy. I would much prefer to be able to install a new server (or drive), boot from a rescue CD and then write the image back to the new drive.

Thanks

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freitasm

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#269968 4-Nov-2009 11:58

I use Symantec Backup Exec System Restore on my Windows servers...

geekiegeek

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#269973 4-Nov-2009 12:05

freitasm: I use Symantec Backup Exec System Restore on my Windows servers...

ditto we use this on many, many servers and have had to use it when everything goes bad with great results.

CYaBro

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#269975 4-Nov-2009 12:08

We use ShadowProtect on all our servers and it works very well too.
Can take an image of the server every 15 minutes if you want to - changed sectors only and can be restored to a new box in around 1 hour.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

jaymz

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#269979 4-Nov-2009 12:26

CYaBro: We use ShadowProtect on all our servers and it works very well too.
Can take an image of the server every 15 minutes if you want to - changed sectors only and can be restored to a new box in around 1 hour.

We also use ShadowProtect. Great product for restoring any server/workstation onto any hardware (Hardware Independant Restore) Very fast too!

amanzi

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#269996 4-Nov-2009 13:10

I use and recommend ShadowProtect too. The server version has an RRP of NZ$1194 with 1 years maintenance and media, but you may be able to get it a bit cheaper if you ask the right people. (hint hint)

lchiu7

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#269997 4-Nov-2009 13:12

Thanks for the responses. I did a quich check and it seems ShadowProtect is about the same price as Acronis viz. $895(US). I couldn't find a price for Symantec software.

It seems suppliers charge a way lot more if you're using a server product versus home even though the capability is similar. Might trial ShadowProtect versus Acronis.

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amanzi

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#269999 4-Nov-2009 13:19

lchiu7: Thanks for the responses. I did a quich check and it seems ShadowProtect is about the same price as Acronis viz. $895(US). I couldn't find a price for Symantec software.

It seems suppliers charge a way lot more if you're using a server product versus home even though the capability is similar. Might trial ShadowProtect versus Acronis.

You can download a fully functional 30 day trial from the Storage Craft website. The NZ RRP is actually $1194 including one year's maintenance and you get the media kit for free.

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freitasm

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#270031 4-Nov-2009 14:49

I have a conference call at 4.30pm with Symantec's product manager for BESR. There is a new version announced today... If you want to know anything please ask quickly!

freitasm

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#270092 4-Nov-2009 17:07

Ok, out of the phone call. It seems BESR has a new licensing model - if you have BESR 2010 virtual server license you can have one running on your host and unlimited licenses for the guest machines.

They are also coming out with a Linux version before the end of the year. I am waiting for price confirmation now.