Replicating a Large Enterprise Configuration Over Slow Links

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When configuring a Configuration Storage server during Microsoft® Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004 Enterprise Edition Setup, you can choose to create a new enterprise or replicate from an existing one. If you replicate from an existing enterprise, you can either replicate over the network, or replicate by restoring from a backup file.

If you are replicating an enterprise configuration with a large number of arrays over a slow link (10 megabits per second (Mbps) or less), we recommend that for best performance you replicate from a backup file. This document describes the procedures you should follow to do this.

Replicating from a Backup File

If you replicate a Configuration Storage server using the backup files from another Configuration Storage server, during setup the replicated Configuration Storage server will be joined to the same Active Directory® Application Mode (ADAM) site as the Configuration Storage server from which the backup files were created.

After Setup is complete, you can optimize the replication of configuration information stored on the Configuration Storage servers by establishing ADAM sites, and moving the replicated Configuration Storage server to a different site. Use the AdamSites.exe tool to configure and manage ADAM sites. For more information, see Deploying Configuration Storage servers across ADAM sites, in ISA Server Help.

Procedures

This section outlines the following procedures:

  • Use Windows Backup utility to back up the ADAM data files on the Configuration Storage server from which you want to replicate. Copy the backup (.bkf) file to the computer on which you want to replicate the Configuration Storage server.
  • Use Windows Backup utility to restore the backup files to a location on the computer on which you want to replicate the Configuration Storage server.
  • Run Setup to replicate the Configuration Storage server.

Back Up the ADAM Data Files

On the Configuration Storage server from which you want to replicate, do the following:

  1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.
  2. If the Welcome page appears, click Advanced Mode.
  3. On the Backup tab, select the ADAMData folder, located under the installation folder (by default, Program files\Microsoft ISA Server.
  4. In Backup media or file name, type the name of the backup file. (Be sure to use the .bkf extension).
  5. Click Start Backup. On the Backup Job Information dialog box, click Start Backup.
  6. When the backup is complete, copy the backup files to the computer on which you want to replicate the Configuration Storage server.

Restore the Backup Files

On the computer to which you want to replicate the Configuration Storage server, do the following:

  1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.

  2. If the Welcome page appears, click Advanced Mode.

  3. On the Restore and Manage Media tab, right-click File, and then click Catalog file. Type or browse to the backup file (.bkf) you copied to the local computer. Then click OK.

  4. Expand the tree nodes to navigate to the ADAMData folder. Click to select the folder.

  5. In Restore files to, select Alternate location.

  6. In Alternate location, specify the folder to which you want to restore the backup data files.

    Note

    The folder you specify must be on an NTFS drive and located on the local computer. A network location is not supported.

  7. Click Start Restore.

  8. On the Confirm Restore dialog box, click OK.

    Note

    After running restore, do not rename the folder you have specified for the restore data, or copy the contents of the folder to a different location.

Run Setup to Replicate the Configuration Storage Server

On the computer to which you want to replicate the Configuration Storage server, do the following:

  1. At a command prompt, type: Path\ISAAutorun.exe, where Path is the path to the Microsoft ISA Server 2004 installation files. The path may be the root folder of the ISA Server CD or a shared folder on your network that contains the ISA Server files.
  2. On the Welcome page, click Next.
  3. On the License Agreement page, click I accept the terms of the license agreement, and then click Next.
  4. On the Customer Information page, fill in the information, and then click Next.
  5. On the Setup Scenarios page, select Install Configuration Storage server, and then click Next.
  6. On the Component Selection page, verify that the Configuration Storage server feature will be installed on the local hard drive. Then, click Next.
  7. On the Enterprise Membership page, select Create a replica of the enterprise configuration. Then, click Next.
  8. On the Locate Configuration Storage Server page, in Configuration Storage server, type the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the Configuration Storage server in the enterprise that you want to replicate. If you are not logged on as an enterprise administrator, you must select Connect using this account, and then provide enterprise administrator credentials. Then, click Next.
  9. On the ISA Server Configuration Replicate Source page, select Copy from the restored data folder. In Restored data folder, specify the restored data location. The path that you should specify is located under the folder to which you restored the ADAM data files, as follows: \Program Files\Microsoft ISA Server\ADAMData.
  10. Click Next to complete Setup.
  11. If you are installing on a domain controller, you will see the Configuration Storage Server Service Account page during Setup. In this case, provide the credentials of a user who is not a domain administrator.