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Ethernet/Network functions in the restore CD OS?

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:09 am
by pbrooks1
OK, looks like I'm first!

I'm testing the bare-metal restore capability for my Windows XP machines.
My machines all back up to a NAS shared over the local LAN.

I downloaded the Vista AIK, and made the AISBackup bootable Restore CD as per the instructions.
When I booted from the Restore CD, the ethernet port was dark/off, so I found I can't actually get to the backup job files over the network to restore the machine!

Now, it may well be too much to include network functionality, and all the configuration/provisioning of addresses etc that is entailed, on the restore CD - but in this case a warning in the instructions that this can only restore files from a CD, DVD or USB disk physically attached to the machine might be in order.

As a workaround I'll try a separate backup of the Windows XP system files incl. AISBackup to a CD, and try a two-stage restore - from the Restore CD, first restore the OS from CD, boot to the machine, then use the AISBackup just restored (and the network functionality) to pull in the rest of the files.

Network Access

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:16 pm
by Barry
The restore CD does include network support, you most likely have to load the NIC drivers during the making of the restore CD.

If the ethernet NIC is integrated then the ethernet drivers should be on the motherboard CD; some computer manufacturers make a drivers folder, e.g. c:\Drivers, where you may be able to find the ethernet drivers.

The restore CD already supports a lot of common ethernet NIC boards, so if you have access to one try installing it into the PC.

Drivers are loaded into the restore CD by opening the corresponding INF file when requested by the set-up routine.

Barry

Device Drivers

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 7:34 pm
by Barry
I forgot to mention, there is a Load Device Driver option on the boot CD you have already made.

The network will require a DHCP server, and some NAS have this option if there is no other DCHP server on the network. Also some NAS devices may be attached directly to a PC using a USB cable.

Barry

Networks and such

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 4:06 am
by pbrooks1
Barry - thanks for the quick reply. I built the recovery CD on my desktop, and then used it in my laptop to test - I've now retested, and confirmed that when I use it on the desktop the networking does function, so I'll go hunting down the ethernet drivers for the laptop and the other machines I have around the office.

Unfortunately the NAS (QNAP TS-101) doesn't have the option to connect as a USB client to the machine, and ethernet connectivity is required, but now I know that the ethernet networking is supported in the recovery CD this is no big deal.

Cleaning up folders afterwards?

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:05 pm
by pbrooks1
Barry, I tested the restoration, and noticed a few anomalies:

I ran another restoration, to a different partition (T: drive)

In the 'AISBackup: Restore destination' dialog box I set the To Path to "T:\", left 'To Root' off, and had the three options 'delete files that did not exist', 'delete folders that are not on backup' and 'restore empty folders' all ticked.

1) At the end of the restore session, there were still some earlier folders left on the drive - the 'delete files that did not exist' and 'delete folders that are not on backup X' options did not function, although they were enabled at the start.

There was no opportunity to review deletions - the restoration job just finished by itself.

2) One of the extra folders left on the drive afterwards was \AISRSTR, which holds temporary files. There were three files inside - AISBRSTR.exe and two .tod files. Should this have been deleted as part of the cleanup at the end of the restore process?

3) (curiosity question) When 'To Root' is selected, the three options underneath are grayed out - but they retain the values however they were set before the 'To Root' is selected. Since it is possible to make these any desired combination before clicking 'To Root', why do they become grayed out?