Microsoft KB Archive/286422

= How to Back Up and Restore a Windows Server 2003 Cluster =

PSS ID Number: 286422

Article Last Modified on 11/3/2003

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition

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This article was previously published under Q286422



SUMMARY
The Backup tool (NTBackup.exe) has been enhanced in Windows Server 2003. This article describes how to use the Backup tool in Windows Server 2003 to perform seamless backup and restore operations of the local cluster database. You can use the Backup tool to restore the configuration locally and to restore the configuration to all nodes in a cluster.



How to Back Up the Cluster Configuration
To back up the cluster configuration, use the Backup tool to back up the system state of a node when the Cluster service is running. When you do so, a backup of the local cluster registry is created in the %SystemRoot%\Cluster\ClusDB folder. The contents of the Quorum disk, including the Chkxxx.tmp file and the Quolog.log file, are also backed up.

To back up the cluster configuration:
 * 1) Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.
 * 2) After the Backup or Restore Wizard starts, click Next.
 * 3) Click Back up files and settings, and then click Next.
 * 4) Click Let me choose what to back up, and then click Next.
 * 5) Under My Computer, click System State.
 * 6) Enter a location to save the backup file to, and then click Next.
 * 7) Verify the backup settings, and then click Finish.

How to Restore the Cluster Configuration
Use caution when you restore the system state because it affects the following components:
 * The boot files
 * The COM+ class registration database
 * The registry
 * The system volume (SYSVOL) (domain controllers only)
 * The Active Directory directory service (domain controllers only)

When the restore process starts, it stops the Cluster service on that local node. If you restore the cluster configuration to the whole cluster, the Cluster service is stopped on all nodes in the cluster. Consider how this stoppage will affect your environment before you perform the restore operation. The restore process also creates a backup of the restored checkpoint and quorum log file in the %SystemRoot%\Cluster\Cluster_Backup folder.

To restore the cluster configuration:  Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup. After the Backup or Restore Wizard starts, click Next. Click Restore files and settings, and then click Next. Select the media that you want to perform the restore operation from, click to select the appropriate system state, and then click Next. On the Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard page, perform one of the following tasks:  If you want to restore only the cluster configuration (ClusDB) for this local node, click Next. If you want to restore the cluster configuration from this backup to all nodes in the cluster, click the Advanced button, and then follow these steps: <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> Under restore files to, click their original location, and then click Next.</li> Click Replace existing files, and then click Next.</li> Click to select the Restore the Cluster Registry to the quorum disk and all other nodes check box, and then click Next.</li></ol> </li></ul> </li> Click Finish.</li> After the restore process has completed, click Yes when you are prompted to restart the computer.

You must restart the computer because the ClusDB file is in use. It will be replaced by the system when you restart.

Note If you restored the cluster configuration to all nodes in the cluster, the Cluster service is stopped on all nodes in the cluster after the node that was restored is restarted. As a result, the whole cluster is unavailable during the restore operation.</li> Verify that the Cluster service starts correctly on all nodes in the cluster.

Note If the cluster configuration was restored to the whole cluster, you must start the Cluster service on the other nodes in the cluster.</li></ol>

For additional information about using the Backup program, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

240363 HOW TO: Use the Backup Program to Back Up and Restore the System State in Windows 2000

For additional information about a related topic, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

248998 How to Properly Restore Cluster Information

Additional query words: MSCS Backup

Keywords: kbinfo KB286422

Technology: kbWinServ2003Data kbWinServ2003DataSearch kbWinServ2003Ent kbWinServ2003EntSearch kbWinServ2003Search

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