Zoltan, I prefer to use the built-in Windows Backup for System State backups
and then let TSM backup the files to tape during the normal file system
backups. In this way, I know I have a Microsoft supported recovery mechanism if
I need it.
Nowadays, with the advent of virtualization, there are very few instances where
a server actually needs a system state backup. Off the top of my head, I would
recommend it for a couple of scenarios for maximum support from Microsoft in
case of a restore:
- Windows Domain Controller with global catalog
- Enterprise Windows Certificate Authority server
If you have Domain Controllers with a global catalog at several remote sites
perhaps you'll decide you don't need a system state backup of any of your
Domain Controllers. I do have them, and I still perform a system state backup
of one of them. If you choose not to do system state backups you probably
should consider a remote site for "delayed replication"--just in case you need
your Active Directory to "go back in time".
Ray Storer
NIBCO INC.
574.295.3457
-----Original Message-----
From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Zoltan
Forray
Sent: Thursday, January 9, 2014 1:12 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [ADSM-L] POLL: Backing up Windows Systemstate
A question about backing up systemstate, which seems to give us numerous
headaches.
Do you backup systemsstate on your Windows servers and WHY?
My Windows folks constantly contact me about errors backup up and getting
failures related to the systemstate files/process or VSS.
For example, today's headache is a 2008 box failing with *"System Writers
'system writer' do not exist * and yes, doing a "vssadmin list writers"
does not list "system writers". They have been fighting this since
November, with no solution to fixing this problem. All hits/suggested
solutions from Google searches have been tried, to no avail. I don't thing
the server owners are willing to do a complete rebuild.
The simple solution would be to NOT backups systemstate. For a simple
2008 server, what do we lose by not backing up systemstate?
--
*Zoltan Forray*
TSM Software & Hardware Administrator
Virginia Commonwealth University
UCC/Office of Technology Services
[email protected] - 804-828-4807
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