RAID Information

RAID is a handy way to increase the storage capacity beyond the size of a single hard drive. RAID offers additional levels of protection in the event of drive failure, making these devices even more attractive.

Backing up a Client computer with a RAID storage device:

Backup for Workgroups performs a file-based backup of the files stored on the RAID device.  Since Backup for Workgroups interacts with Windows to back the files stored on the RAID device, the underlying RAID hardware is independent of the backup process.  In other words, as long as Windows can access the files on the RAID device, Backup for Workgroups can backup the files on the RAID device.

Please note that Backup for Workgroups does not backup at the sector level, therefore the specific drive configurations assigned to the RAID do not change or have influence on the backup process.

Performing a Disaster Recovery of a Client computer with a RAID storage device:

When performing a Disaster Recovery (bare-metal restore) of a Client computer that has a RAID storage device, it is important to configure the new RAID storage device to have the same drive letter configuration as used at the time of the last backup AND each drive needs to be configured to at least the same size as used previously.

1. Go to the Backup Server
2. Generate a Disaster Recovery Report for the Backup Client with the RAID storage device
3. Go to the computer running the RAID storage device
4. Install Windows at the same version and service pack level as was in use at the time of the last backup. This information is listed on the Disaster Recovery Report
5. Configure the RAID device to match the same drive letter configuration as used at the time of the last backup AND each drive needs to be configured to at least the same size as used previously.
   Note:  Since Backup for Workgroups is file-based, the specific configuration of the RAID drives will not influence the restore process
6. Install the Backup Client software
7. Perform a Disaster Recovery
8. When the restoration is complete, reboot the computer.
9. If the RAID drivers are different that the original RAID system drivers, you may need to repair Windows after the reboot.

Using a RAID Storage Device for the Backup Server

The Backup Server needs to be stored on a single disk-based device from Windows' point-of-view. This makes a RAID device an attractive solution because RAID allows for multiple drives to appear as a single logical device when Windows looks at it. As a result, Backup for Workgroups will see the RAID device as a single disk-based storage device.