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xadox
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

How to backup a virtual domain controller?

Actuelly we have installed two microsoft domain controllers (Win2K8R2) in our vmware infractructure (Two ESX 4.1 and the VMware Vcenter Server).

All our virtual mashines are backup through vcb and Backup Exec 12.5.

While vcb will not be supported in newer ESX versions we are upgrading to Backup Exec 2010 with VMware Agents, so the VMware API can be used.

How is the best practice for backing up those domain controllers.

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Maximenu
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

Hello xadox...take a look, from Symantec

http://www.symantec.com/connect/forums/what-best-practice-backing-virtualized-domain-controllers

Smiley Happy

Javier Galvez

Customer Success Compute and Cloud

Joined the VMTN Community in Dic, 2004

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idle-jam
Immortal
Immortal

it's the same on how you will backup a normal active directory server.

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xadox
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

ok. So I just can make an online backup through the Backup Exec VMware Agent.

That's great.

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Maximenu
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

An DC virtual machine it´s tha same than a physical machines

of course...make a normal backup and check the link of my post for best practices.

Javier Galvez

Customer Success Compute and Cloud

Joined the VMTN Community in Dic, 2004

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idle-jam
Immortal
Immortal

yes as simple as that. Smiley Happy

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ChrisDearden
Expert
Expert

Remeber that when you restore a backup of a DC , you'll need to put it into AD restore mode , or you'll have lots of fun and games.

My personal preference would be to use NTbackup to take a system state backup of the machine and copy it off to secure storage. That system state can be used to promote a DC is required.

If this post has been useful , please consider awarding points. @chrisdearden http://jfvi.co.uk http://vsoup.net
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xadox
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

While backing up the domain controller with Symantec AVVI I get an error on the Domain Controller in the Active Directory log:

ActiveDirectory_DomainService

EventID: 1168

Internal error: An Active Directory Domain Services error has occurred.

Additional Data
Error value (decimal):
-1032
Error value (hex):
fffffbf8
Internal ID:
160207d1

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