Recently I found out that it is easier to perform a bare metal restore that is restoring Active Directory on a computer that is not running than on a running computer, could someone elaborate for me the steps to follow to restore Active Directory on a running computer. What is the relationship between Active Directory and Exchange server?
Hello,
Yeah its pretty straight forward to restore a backed up Active Directory on a Server Machine that is not running an Active Directory already, a bare metal install.
But its quite easier to restore Active Directory on a computer that is already running an Active Directory. Just follow the steps given here.
(This solution is valid for Windows Server 2003 and 2008 only)
1. Use Open File Ad-on to select the Backup Client location from your Backup Server.
2. When Backup Client finishes its operation,it needs human intervention. That is the only difference between bare metal install and Up-Running Active Directory restore processes. Reboot the machine.
3. When it starts to boot up, hit F8 key.Â
4. Select Directory Services Restore Mode. Its a sort of Safe Mode like in XP
5. Navigate to the location on your Fixed Disk where the Backup Client software is located.
6. Open Backup Client and select restore Active Directory.
7. After completion, reboot the system.
You are done. 🙂
Good Luck
