nimrodel Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 Hi, My DC running Server 2008R2 has crashed big time! The disc, which was in RAID mirror mode, is unbootable. However, I can remove the disc and access all the files. I have a "bare metal" backup but this won't restore. The server is flaky even if I re-install a clean copy of Server 2008R2, so I suspect a hardware fault. I have ordered a new server but if the backup doesn't work (I suspect it is corrupt) then I have no option but to start from scratch. I am inclined to install Server 2012R2 in this case, but is there any way of extracting the data/info for DHCP, DNS, AD & GPO from the old 2008 (non-bootable) disc? Or do I have to accept that I need to start from scratch and re-build the GPOs, AD and DHCP? The school have been without their data for 3 days now :-( Dave
ThatBoringBloke Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 Are you saying that both disks in the mirror have failed?
nimrodel Posted December 15, 2015 Author Posted December 15, 2015 Yes. Looking at the files on the 2nd drive, this has not been updated for a few weeks so it looks as though the RAID failed. So basically, I have 2 drives, one of which is out of date neither of which are bootable. One of them seems intact just not bootable. Is there a way to make it bootable without RAID?
GuyJD Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 Is it hardware or software raid? if it's hardware I'd be inclined to look at the raid card as being the fault, if it's software you can try all the normal tricks you'd use when a non raid hdd isn't booting, scandisk and the like and see where that gets you.
win Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 Do you have another DC? 2 is usually the minimum for a network.
pantscat Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 Have you got a recent system state backup? and a decent-ish spec PC?
nimrodel Posted December 15, 2015 Author Posted December 15, 2015 Hardware RAID but onboard the MB so not replaceable.
nimrodel Posted December 15, 2015 Author Posted December 15, 2015 Haven't got a state backup, only a full server backup which in hindsight is a mistake because I won't be able to try restoring on the new server. - - - Updated - - - No, only one DC. Just a primary school so no bells and whistles.
pantscat Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 What did you use to create your backup? My only suggestion at this stage would be to install Hyper-V on a decent spec PC and then restore the backup to a VM.
GuyJD Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 Haven't got a state backup, only a full server backup which in hindsight is a mistake because I won't be able to try restoring on the new server. - - - Updated - - - No, only one DC. Just a primary school so no bells and whistles.Get yourself an unused desktop pc and set it up as a secondary DC, it's the first thing I did when I started here. Only having a single DC has the potential to be a major headache as you are probably now well aware. If the hardware raid on the faulty server is still able to read the drive then you maybe be able to run some troubleshooting tools on the disk and get it booting again. 1
techy32 Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 Sorry to hear this situation.... It's a pain. You must setup another domain controller with a good spec PC ( Core i5/i7 ) with 8 GB memory should be good for a 2nd domain controller.
Blue_Cookeh Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 What did you use to take the backup? Despite it being "corrupt" you may well be able to salvage your Active Directory database and avoid having to build an entirely new network. It's possible, but a mega pain in the ass. Funnily enough it's what got my budget for a Hyper-V cluster approved after a know-it-all governor said no to me getting a secondary server
nimrodel Posted December 15, 2015 Author Posted December 15, 2015 I used the server backup method built in to Server2008R2. It was the complete bare metal backup to an external USB3 device. Even though I loaded the USB drivers, and the external drive is recognised, if I boot from a setup DVD and choose Repair, Restore, the restore software cannot "see" the backup on the external drive. I copied the backup to an internal drive and this time it is "seen" and it starts but does not complete. I'd be interested in how I can restore the AD db even if it is a pain in the ass. It can't be as big a pain in the ass as losing the only server in the school when I only work there 10 hrs a week!!
pantscat Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 Was this a restore attempt on the b*ggered server? It's definitely worth trying it out on a different machine.
nimrodel Posted December 15, 2015 Author Posted December 15, 2015 Yes it was on the b*ggered machine (although it is now known by a much worse name!!). The problem restoring on a different machine (I have a Zeon 8gb / 2x1tB server coming today) is that the image will have the wrong drivers. 1
GuyJD Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 A quick scan through this may be a solution to your problem Booting a Windows Server Backup VHD in Hyper-V Thanks to @Arthur for the original link in a forum thread back in 2012
rrrrr Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 Yes it was on the b*ggered machine (although it is now known by a much worse name!!). The problem restoring on a different machine (I have a Zeon 8gb / 2x1tB server coming today) is that the image will have the wrong drivers. You would use the manufacturer provisioning disc to load drivers 1st, this will then prompt for windows disc. Then restore backup during windows installation
sidewinder Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 Yes it was on the b*ggered machine (although it is now known by a much worse name!!). The problem restoring on a different machine (I have a Zeon 8gb / 2x1tB server coming today) is that the image will have the wrong drivers. It's worth a try though and you might be pleasantly surprised. I was messing about with an SSD in an old server last week, then put that drive into a laptop I was upgrading, forgot to PXE boot and to my amazement Server 2012 started up as if it was still on the server with not a single driver missing.
Oaktech Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 Yes it was on the b*ggered machine (although it is now known by a much worse name!!). The problem restoring on a different machine (I have a Zeon 8gb / 2x1tB server coming today) is that the image will have the wrong drivers. Mate, you are running out of options! Restore it on any machine you think will hack it and see what happens - I've more than once recently restored machines for people onto different hardware and windows has just dealt with it. I've had to install a few drivers, but mainly it just works!
pantscat Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 Restore it to a VM running on a PC then simply move the files over to the new server when it arrives and continue to run it as a VM.
nimrodel Posted December 15, 2015 Author Posted December 15, 2015 Thanks all for your replies. After another failed attempt at a restore, which resulted in BSOD, I gave in and built a new server using 2012R2 (so that's a bonus!). Now if only I could remember all the reservedIP addresses and GPOs!!! Lesson learnt anyway. System backup, state backup and data backup from now on. Oh, and no RAID! I think it's more trouble than it's worth. Dave
speckytecky Posted December 16, 2015 Posted December 16, 2015 I'm coming to this thread late and certainly after it seems you have got things sorted @nimrodel but I was just wondering what help the manufacturer of your server might be able to offer. In my last school I had a borfed Dell T310 and even though it was out of warranty Dell server support dragged me out of the mire. Ever since then I've ensured our DC and the second DC are in warranty. The former is now into its 7th year of warranty - the warranty is 4 hour response and cost the best part of a grand but for the peace of mind it gives its worth every penny of that.
nimrodel Posted December 16, 2015 Author Posted December 16, 2015 Yes that is good advice, but the problem is that I'm the only "techy" in the school so the only one who understands the importance of keeping the server running. The issue is persuading SMT to part with cash for something that they don't see the benefit of (in their eyes). However, this issue might give me a little leverage in spending a bit more on "disaster prevention". We did have the offer of server support from the supplier (it is only a PC running an i7 processor) for £250 per year but the boss didn't go ahead. Incidentally, a teacher came to me the other day with her laptop which was making a very loud clicking noise and not booting up. When I explained that it is almost certain that her data would not be able to be recovered, she was distraught (understatement!). Of course, no backup. So I've told all the teachers to ask Santa for an external drive! ;-)
NB9457 Posted December 16, 2015 Posted December 16, 2015 Yes that is good advice, but the problem is that I'm the only "techy" in the school so the only one who understands the importance of keeping the server running. The issue is persuading SMT to part with cash for something that they don't see the benefit of (in their eyes). However, this issue might give me a little leverage in spending a bit more on "disaster prevention". We did have the offer of server support from the supplier (it is only a PC running an i7 processor) for £250 per year but the boss didn't go ahead. Incidentally, a teacher came to me the other day with her laptop which was making a very loud clicking noise and not booting up. When I explained that it is almost certain that her data would not be able to be recovered, she was distraught (understatement!). Of course, no backup. So I've told all the teachers to ask Santa for an external drive! ;-) Surely the files are backed up on the server?!
sted Posted December 16, 2015 Posted December 16, 2015 I used the server backup method built in to Server2008R2. It was the complete bare metal backup to an external USB3 device. Even though I loaded the USB drivers, and the external drive is recognised, if I boot from a setup DVD and choose Repair, Restore, the restore software cannot "see" the backup on the external drive. I copied the backup to an internal drive and this time it is "seen" and it starts but does not complete. I'd be interested in how I can restore the AD db even if it is a pain in the ass. It can't be as big a pain in the ass as losing the only server in the school when I only work there 10 hrs a week!! ive got a similar situation at a school where the main dc died (and its curric file server print server etc) Ive found that to get the backup to restore from windows server backup (in this case on an iscsi device) i had to mount teh drive AND give it a drive letter it failed repeatedly just having the backup drive accessible as soon as i gave the backup drive a drive letter with diskpart it found the image and im restoring it (apparently its very slow) to a vm now. Touch wood it looks to be working its done the c drive and is on to d but its slow going and i dont know if it will work until its finished
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