Unable to perform a restore using “Backup Exec IDR option"

[VF_IT-service]

We are running a Windows Server 2003 environment with both 32 and 64 bit servers.

We have been using BackupExec for several years and have been relying on the IDR option to perform a disaster restore with success.

We have this summer updated to version 11d build 7170 (now with SP1) still with the IDR option.

BUT - BUT we are now unable to perform a disaster restore of any server (32 and 64 bit) !!!

We beleve this is due to a software bug in the agent used on the IDR CDROM based on the tests described below.

This is the steps I have performed:

1. Run a full backup of the server to tape
2. Generated the IDR CD for the server from the Backup Exec Server.
3. Booted another server using the IDR CD
4. The server starts the Disaster Recovery Wizard
5. We choose Manual restore - because the automatic attempts to restore from the last backup, and we want to select another date.
6. We select to restore from Network and the network adapters restore fine
7. We connect the IDR client to the Backup Server and the Agent installs fine
8. The IDR wizard is now awaiting a restore job from the backup server
9. We go to the Backup Server and define a restore job for the C drive and SystemState of that server we want to restore.
10. The restore Job fails with a communication error

This is what I have tested:

• After step 8,  I go to the Backup Exec Server
• I select Backup and browse to the server I want to restore
• I select Connect As and select the IDR account created by the wizard
• It’s now possible to see the agent version and state using right click – Properties
  It’s running
• I then closes the Backup without starting a backup job
• I the continues with step 9 and 10
• I then checks the agent status as described before
  It’s now stopped !!!

This is what I have tested also:

• After step 8,  I go to the Backup Exec Server
• I select Backup and browse to the server I want to restore
• I select Connect As and select the IDR account created by the wizard
• It’s now possible to see the agent version and state using right click – Properties
  It’s running
• I then browse the C drive but not selecting anything
• A test of the Agent status shows it’s still running
• I then browse the SystemState
  This fails !!!
• A test of the Agent status shows it’s NOW stopped
• I go to the server I want to restore
• I exit the IDR Wizard
• I use the Start button to start a new wizard and connects and so on
• I go to the Backup Exec Sever and reconnects to the Agent (in a backup job)
  The agent is now running again !

[Ben_L_]

During step 9 when you are setting up the restore job, are you setting up the job to redirect to the new server name?  When you boot the server with the IDR CD and select manual it gives the server a random name, make sure you are pointing the restore to that name and not the original name.

[VF_IT-service]

When I select manual restore it's correct the server gets a random number, and that's what I am using. If the servername is wrong I would not be able to browse the disk during my simulated restore test !

I have also tryed to select automatic and the select the DR file. That renames the server beeing restored to the correct netvorkname - I can then go back and performe a manual restore (the servername remains the original)