Server hard drive cloning

[davmoo]

Has anyone successfully used any of the free drive cloners to clone drives for Windows Server 2003?

I've got a client that needs to go to larger drives. And its only this client, and only this one time. I really don't want to fork out $100 - $200 for a server specific product to use it just one time.

[tehboris]

Has anyone successfully used any of the free drive cloners to clone drives for Windows Server 2003?

I've got a client that needs to go to larger drives. And its only this client, and only this one time. I really don't want to fork out $100 - $200 for a server specific product to use it just one time.

Do you intend to clone the drive while the server is live or plan some down time to do it?

[computoman]

That would be my question also and also ask if there is any kind of raid in use.

I have easiy done backup of ms windows boxes with clonezilla/drbd (the server version which is quite a bit faster than the cd version), but you would have to set up a linux box. My brother swears by the limited version of acronis.I have never used acronis.


Then there is always.......
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-5088388.html

[davmoo]

The server can be down for an entire weekend if needed. So it doesn't have to be live.

As for Acronis, I like it too. So much that I own the latest version of the home edition. But I'm under the impression that using it on a server will make it generate a nice "Oh noze!!! You need our high dollar server version for this!!!" message.

[computoman]

You could do a test backup with the cd version of clonezilla. http://clonezilla.org/