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why shadow copies of D: in Windows Home Server 2011? RRS feed

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    Just built a 2011 WHS and all seems OK.  However, I just noticed that WHS had shadow copies turned on for the D: drive where all the client backup data is stored.  I am at this moment creating a RAID 5 array using 4 4-TB hds.  (estimated time is about three days, one day into it right now)  How on earth is the server going to make a shadow copy of a 12 TB drive?

    I did a server backup after doing all the MS updates (that took awhile ...) but only backed up drive C:, I see those shadow copies and that is OK.  I realize that Windows Server Backup uses shadow copy technology so it can back up while active doing its server tasks.

    Did WHS out of the box turn on shadow copies for the D: drive?  Or did the built-in Windows Backup program turn it on?  Do I want it left on?

    I plan to move the current contents of the small D: partition to the new RAID5 drive and then remove the D: partition, extend the c: partition and rename the E: drive to D:

    I also plan to backup the server (different than backing up the storage pool) periodically and. of course, back up the storage pool occasionally for off-site storage.  Fortunately it will be a long time before my actual backed up data exceed the capacity of the 4TB external storage pool backup drive.  I'll figure something else out when that happens. 

    Also on my mind and backup related is the method for backing up the storage pool documented by MS for WHS v1 which entails running a script to backup a folder on the D: drive that contains all the client backups.  Is this still the way it is done' with WHS 2011?  if so there will be three WHS server backup jobs:  Windows Server Backup of C: drive, WHS backup of shared folders (as with WHS v1sp1) and a script to copy/backup the client backup folder.  Does all this compute?

    Thanks.  Eric

    Eric Robert Lewis, Ph.D.


    • Edited by erlewis Sunday, March 23, 2014 7:06 PM
    Sunday, March 23, 2014 6:57 PM

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    I don't bother with Shadow copies which is enabled by default. There is no reason to extend C: - what do you intend to do with the extra space? Server Backup will backup the OS, any data you select and Client Computer Backups (should you select that also) but is limited to 2TB of total data.

    Phil P.S. If you find my comment helpful or if it answers your question, please mark it as such.

    • Marked as answer by erlewis Monday, March 24, 2014 3:37 AM
    Sunday, March 23, 2014 11:07 PM
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    Yes, WHS2011 Server Backup is a gem, were it not for the 2TB limit. As I understand it though, and I have not tested anything like this, the 2 TB limit relates to volumes. You should be able to backup more than 2 TB if these are in seperate volumes. I guess, but I speculate here, that if your target volume does not support > 2 TB (e.g. a HDD of 2 TB) but (a) you have more of them and (b) you can connect them at the same time, you should be able to backup all if you use the backup command instead of the Dashboard.

    http://forum.wegotserved.com/index.php/topic/28051-clarification-of-the-2tb-limit/

    • Marked as answer by Andy Qi Monday, March 24, 2014 11:56 AM
    Monday, March 24, 2014 7:19 AM

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    I don't bother with Shadow copies which is enabled by default. There is no reason to extend C: - what do you intend to do with the extra space? Server Backup will backup the OS, any data you select and Client Computer Backups (should you select that also) but is limited to 2TB of total data.

    Phil P.S. If you find my comment helpful or if it answers your question, please mark it as such.

    • Marked as answer by erlewis Monday, March 24, 2014 3:37 AM
    Sunday, March 23, 2014 11:07 PM
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    At present I don't have a reason to extend C:  and I probably won't extend it now.   But I like having the option and I want all the data on RAID.

    I am just learning about Server Backup in Windows 2008 and was thinking in Windows 2003 server backup terms.  What I did read about 2008 sounds impressive though you mention a 2 TB limit that will be a problem soon.   I guess Server Backup is old news to most but it is new to me.  The concept of a backup that is so well-integrated with the OS that is can be invoked using the boot manager or bootable OS install disk is pretty cool.

    Eric Robert Lewis, Ph.D.

    Monday, March 24, 2014 3:37 AM
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    Yes, WHS2011 Server Backup is a gem, were it not for the 2TB limit. As I understand it though, and I have not tested anything like this, the 2 TB limit relates to volumes. You should be able to backup more than 2 TB if these are in seperate volumes. I guess, but I speculate here, that if your target volume does not support > 2 TB (e.g. a HDD of 2 TB) but (a) you have more of them and (b) you can connect them at the same time, you should be able to backup all if you use the backup command instead of the Dashboard.

    http://forum.wegotserved.com/index.php/topic/28051-clarification-of-the-2tb-limit/

    • Marked as answer by Andy Qi Monday, March 24, 2014 11:56 AM
    Monday, March 24, 2014 7:19 AM
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    Yes, WHS2011 Server Backup is a gem, were it not for the 2TB limit. As I understand it though, and I have not tested anything like this, the 2 TB limit relates to volumes. You should be able to backup more than 2 TB if these are in seperate volumes. I guess, but I speculate here, that if your target volume does not support > 2 TB (e.g. a HDD of 2 TB) but (a) you have more of them and (b) you can connect them at the same time, you should be able to backup all if you use the backup command instead of the Dashboard.

    http://forum.wegotserved.com/index.php/topic/28051-clarification-of-the-2tb-limit/

    Yes, using the Dashboard you are limited to 2TB total.

    Phil P.S. If you find my comment helpful or if it answers your question, please mark it as such.


    Monday, March 24, 2014 11:48 AM