No, all I want to do is test that in a disaster I will be able to restore my domain from a backup. At the moment, I can't do that - which is freaking me out.

Youtube Video

I haven't. I imagine replication would work fine, but it doesn't solve my problem.

Yeah, I read that, but it doesn't help. I think it's a problem with AD rather than anything that Veeam is doing wrong.

They need to sell this in tiny taster size containers for new people to try it.

I could you post you a little bit wrapped in clingfilm, but I suspect US Customs may not approve. I'd probably be arrested and sent to Guantanamo Bay.

I'm not using SureBackup, I'm physically restoring our backup on a separate physical host running on a different network. So there are no verification options.

Good article. The only bit I completey disagree with (as someone who is generally fairly lazy) is this

"we’re going to use passion and hard-work synonymously, as you can’t be truly passionate and not be working hard"

As a DR test, I restore a backup of our PDC into our lab network, using Veeam 6.5.

It initially boots to a recovery menu and after a few seconds automatically boots with "start Windows normally". It then says "Applying computer settings". After a few minutes it then reboots. After the second boot it brings up a logon screen and I can logon. This is what I expected to happen according to Veeam documentation.

When I first go into Active Directory Users & Computers, everything looks fine.

However, when I try and go in after a few minutes, I get an error "Naming information cannot be located because: The specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted."

I followed a KB from Microsoft that involved setting BurFlags to D4 in the registry and restarting the File Replication server and this allows me to open Active Directory Users & Computers ok. However, the NETLOGON share has disappeared.

When I did this a few weeks ago, after doing the BurFlags thing, I was able to add a new PC to the domain, so I was reasonably confident that I could recover AD (although not happy about it as I shouldn't have to do any of this, it should just restore). Now, I don't seem to be able to add a new PC. So I'm not confident I can recover at all.

I've got someone coming in on Monday to look at it. But they've been in before and haven't found anything wrong.

I ran dcdiag without any parameters and it passed everything except replication (understandable as I haven't restored the BDC) and RidManager where it says "the DS has corrupt data". When I open DNS Manager, it hangs.

Any suggestion on where to start looking at fixing this? I think I've setup my Veeam backup and recovery jobs correctly.

I actually used to support Chinese Windows 95 when I worked in Hong Kong. It was a nightmare. I become an expert on recognising icons. I had to get people to translate error messages, with unpredictable results.

I'm going to review DR DOS 6.0.

My all-time favourite OS.

And OS/2. Lol.

At least it's the English OS/2.

His last review was for Chinese Windows 7. WTF?

@scottalanmiller said:

Sure but is that the kind of stuff that you archive for permanent record?

Absolutely. That way when my wife complains about something, I have an audit trail to prove my innocence.

I use Hamachi for remote staff which comes free with our LogMeIn subscription. People often seem dismissive of it and it seems to be more popular in the gaming world than the business world. But I have to say it has been rock solid for us and a joy to administer.

Twiglets are also ace!

Marmite is delicious. I regularly have it on toast for breakfast. Never tried vegemite.

@ajstringham said:

Gonna get a haircut today.

That should be in the "What Are You Going To Do In A Few Hours Time" thread.

95% of my entire life originates from e-mail! If I need to pick up some milk on my way home, my wife will e-mail me.

@scottalanmiller said:

They never were popular with serious photographers because they destroy the originals so quickly.

Define serious photographer.

There something I still find incredibly thrilling about the noise of a dial-up modem connecting.

Other ones to go soon would include the noise a CD drawer makes opening and closing.