Guidelines for Using ASR

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To successfully use ASR in your disaster recovery plan, you should include the following guidelines:

  • Run ASR backup regularly, preferably by using automatic settings.

  • Plan for making the required resources, including tape backup drives and removable and hard disks, available for ASR recovery.

  • Perform any needed file system conversions before running your first ASR backup.

  • Plan for conditions that might prevent a fully successful ASR restore.

    Under the following conditions, ASR might not be able to restore all disk configurations

    • If a critical volume is not accessible during an ASR restore, the restore will fail.

    • Noncritical disks that are a part of the ASR backup are not restored if they are not found during the ASR restore, but the balance of the restore will complete successfully. Disk types that might not appear to the restore process include IEEE 1394, USB, or Jaz disks.

  • Plan to protect the critical files Asr.sif and Asrpnp.sif generated by Backup and copied to your ASR floppy disk.

    If the ASR floppy disk that contains these files is lost, you can recover the files from the systemroot\Repair folder on the host system. If these files are not accessible on the original host, you can recover them from the ASR backup media by using another system. By storing these files in three locations — the ASR floppy disk, the Repair folder, and on ASR backup media — you have three levels of protection against their loss.

For more information about ASR, see the Storage Technologies Collection of the Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference (or see the Storage Technologies Collection on the Web at https://www.microsoft.com/reskit) and see "Automated System Recovery (ASR) overview" in Help and Support Center for Windows Server 2003.