Perform restore to organisational backup/restore schedule
Accessing organisational schedule
Retrieve the correct media from storage
Determine what data is to be restored
Perform the restore
Example: Restore using Microsoft Backup
Check the validity of restored data
Document the restore
Summary
Check your progress
Accessing organisational schedule
The organisational schedules for restore should be given within the organisational guidelines. The schedules will have been developed from the contents of the disaster recovery or contingency plan. Often though, a partial restoration needs to be scheduled because only a portion of a file system has been lost through deletion, corruption or incorrect data input. In the case of partial restoration the organisational schedule would be developed and presented by the IT Manager.
Reflect
When might a complete restoration be scheduled?
Feedback
A complete restoration would rarely be scheduled. However, it is likely that a scheduled restoration would be indicated in the disaster recovery or contingency plan in the case ofa server failure.
If critical data is stored on workstations, although that is not wise in a client/server environment, then restoration would be scheduled for that particular workstation.
Retrieve the correct media from storage
Assuming that a major catastrophe has not occurred (eg an office, along with the network, was destroyed by fire) you would retrieve the data, along with the network, locally from the organisation office. Otherwise, you would have to go off site to retrieve the media.
Having opened the backup storage cabinet you would be confronted with an array of backups in the form of tapes, CDs, DVDs and so on. The organisational guidelines should stipulate the media type that was used for the backup.
At this point it is often useful to have a colleague assist you so that you can both confirm with each other that the correct backup article has been chosen.
You need to look for type of backup, FUL, DIF, INC, the location it was backed up from and the correct date.
Confirmation then needs to be formally processed that all was in order – check all the details once again. It could be disastrous to perform a correct dated restoration to the incorrect location.
Reflect
What would be the implication of choosing a later differential backup over an earlier full backup?
Feedback
The later differential backup would have backed up all files that had been marked for archive since the last full backup but not backed up any files that had not been marked for archive. The full backup backs up all files in the designated file system regardless of the state of the archive flag.
Determine what data is to be restored
In order to know what data is to be restored, it’s imperative that you know what data was backed up in a backup process. This should be found from the documentation created at the time of the backup. In most backup/restore applications it’s possible to restore either all of the backed up data or restore only a selection. Restoring a selection of backup data is known as a planned restoration.
Reflect
How would you decide what data was to be restored from the retrieved media?
Feedback
Your decision would be based on either the organisational guidelines found in the disaster recovery or contingency plan or a request from the IT Manager (which you should receive in writing). You will then restore according to the requirements. As you are new to performing restores to a computer system, it is also imperative that you have an appropriately qualified person to guide you through the restoration process and confirm that you have made the appropriate choice according to organisational requirements.
Perform the restore
Let’s look at the following scenario:
We have previously performed a full backup for Forth Management Associates, of F: drive on the server. The folders we backed up were Escan, Ethereal, Media player, MediaGX, Microsoft downloads and Microsoft site files.
Example: Restore using Microsoft Backup
We are going to restore the backup FUL_Forth_F_040904.bkf. How might we consider a planned restoration if complete documentation was unavailable?
We are going to evaluate Microsoft Backup to reflect on the restoration options available. Remember though, there are a number of backup packages available – both vendor and third party suppliers. An organisation will typically evaluate these packages and select what is considered to be the most appropriate for that business.
Let’s go through the steps.
Figure 1: The correct backup file is selected from the available list. Notice that the destination is currently set to the original location.
Figure 2: Having selected the backup set to restore, we now select the backup location and note that there is a list of the backed up folders on the right-hand side. This will aid us where documentation is poor.
Figure 3: From the right-hand side we can select the folders we wish to restore from the full backup set when we don’t want to perform a complete restoration
Figure 4: Having selected ‘Next >‘ we are presented with the above dialog box. Notice that, by default, the settings are ‘Restore to: Original locations’ and ‘Existing files: Do not replace’. That may not be what we planned for our restoration so we press the ‘Advanced…’ button.
Figure 5: The Restore Wizard now presents the dialog box shown above. This shows us three destination alternatives for the restoration. If you select ‘Alternate location’ and press ‘Next >‘.
Figure 6: The dialog box is now modified to accept an alternate location. ‘Browse’ can be used to input this location or the location can be directly entered from the keyboard.
Figure 7: Now we might wish to replace existing files so we select the appropriate radio button and then press ‘Next >‘.
Figure 8: There we are. We have selected the correct media of Full backup for Forth Management Associates, Drive F: and the date of 4th September 2004. Note we are restoring to an alternate location and replacing existing files.
Finally you press Finish to get the restoration started, correct? WRONG! You now ask your colleague to check that all is correct according to the restoration requirements. Once your colleague confirms that all is correct then you press Finish. Well done.
Check the validity of restored data
Most back up applications offer validation of data on the fly. That is, the data is checked between the source and the destination to establish that the destination data is an exact copy of the source data. Alternatively, you could visually examine the restored data to validate the restoration process. Which is easier and quicker?
Reflect
You are asked to restore a section of data, not the complete backup set. How might you do this and establish validity?
Feedback
In keeping with previous examples, we will be using Microsoft Backup. Having backed up the data it is now essential to evaluate the contents of the backup set in an effort to restore specific content. Most backup/restore applications offer a view of the backed up data and Microsoft backup is no exception. Review Figure 3 above and see that you can choose the data you wish to restore. Armed with documentation of the backup, you can evaluate the validity of the restored data by observation.
You need to:
- Compare backup to restoration.
- Review the restoration request at least twice.
- Confirm authority for restoration.
- Validate restoration to a particular machine or group of machines.
- In the case of selective restoration, confirm that the selected files have been restored to requirements.
Document the restore
It’s always efficient to have details of the restoration in order to confirm that what was restored is what was supposed to be restored. Due to human error, and in case the restoration was not correct, organisational procedures dictate that secondary details (ie a record of the process) be available for review.
Reflect
What are some of the details we should document?
Feedback
Documentation requirements of the restore process include:
- device/computer or group of devices/computers that were to be restored
- name of backup file/s that were restored
- volume (on the nominated computer) to which files were restored
- who did the restoration
- who approved the restoration
- when the restoration was performed
- whether it was a total or selective restoration
- whether it was a clean restoration and, if not, which existing files were overwritten.
Summary
This reading covered the following aspects ofperforming restore to organisational backup/restore schedule:
- accessing organisational schedules — where to find the organisational schedules for restoration
- retrieving correct media from storage and determining what data is to be restored — how to check that you are retrieving the correct data that is needed to restore for a specific location
- checking the validity of restoration — how to accurately verify that the backup has been performed correctly
- documenting the restore — items to detail and record about the restoration procedure so that it is clear, for example, what was done, by whom and when.
Check your progress
Now you should attempt the Practice activities in this topic. If you’ve already tried them, have another go and see if you can improve your responses.
When you feel ready, try the ‘Check your understanding’ activity in the Preview section of this topic. This will help you decide if you’re ready for assessment.
Reading: Perform restore to organisational backup/restore schedule1
2005