Veritas™ System Recovery 21 User's Guide

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Product(s): System Recovery (21)
  1. Introducing Veritas System Recovery
    1.  
      About Veritas System Recovery
    2.  
      The components of Veritas System Recovery
    3.  
      Accessing Help and Support for Veritas System Recovery
    4.  
      Sending your feedback regarding Veritas System Recovery 21
    5.  
      Accessing Veritas QuickAssist (VQA)
    6.  
      Updating Veritas System Recovery with Veritas Update
  2. Installing Veritas System Recovery
    1.  
      System requirements for Veritas System Recovery
    2.  
      Supported file systems, disk types, disk partition schemes, and removable media
    3.  
      Feature availability in Veritas System Recovery
    4.  
      About the trial version of Veritas System Recovery
    5. Installing Veritas System Recovery
      1.  
        Activating and setting up Veritas System Recovery after installation
      2.  
        Activating Veritas System Recovery after the trial period
    6.  
      Uninstalling Veritas System Recovery
    7.  
      System requirements for Veritas System Recovery Monitor
    8.  
      Installing Veritas System Recovery Monitor
  3. Ensuring the recovery of your computer
    1. Creating a new Veritas System Recovery Disk
      1.  
        Welcome Panel
      2. Creation Options
        1.  
          Veritas System Recovery Disk recovery matrix
        2.  
          Veritas System Recovery Disk customization support matrix
        3.  
          Non-availability of the Typical option
      3.  
        Download and install Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK)
      4.  
        Languages Options
      5.  
        Veritas System Recovery Disk Storage Media/Destination Options
      6.  
        Licensed Features Options
      7. Storage and Network Drivers Options
        1.  
          Adding a Storage or Network Driver
      8.  
        Startup Options
      9.  
        Network Options
      10.  
        Setup LightsOut Restore Options
    2. Customizing an existing Veritas System Recovery Disk
      1.  
        Welcome Panel
      2.  
        Recovery Disk Source Options
      3. Veritas System Recovery Disk Storage Media/Destination Options
        1.  
          How to add new drivers or driver versions to the Veritas System Recovery Disk
      4.  
        Licensed Features Options
      5. Storage and Network Drivers Options
        1.  
          Adding a Storage or Network Driver
      6.  
        Startup Options
      7.  
        Network Options
    3. About restoring a computer from a remote location by using LightsOut Restore
      1. Configuring LightsOut Restore
        1.  
          Welcome Panel
        2.  
          Source Location Options
        3.  
          Licensed Features Options
        4. Storage and Network Drivers Options
          1.  
            Adding a Storage or Network Driver
        5.  
          Startup Options
        6.  
          Network Options
        7.  
          Setup LightsOut Restore Options
    4.  
      Testing the Veritas System Recovery Disk
  4. Getting Started
    1.  
      How to use Veritas System Recovery
    2.  
      Starting Veritas System Recovery
    3.  
      Configuring Veritas System Recovery default options
    4. Setting up default general backup options
      1.  
        Setting a default backup destination
    5.  
      Improving your computer's performance during a backup
    6.  
      Enabling network throttling
    7.  
      Setting default options for the Windows notification area
    8. File types and file extension
      1.  
        Adding new file types and extensions
      2.  
        Renaming file types and extensions
      3.  
        Restoring default file types and extensions
      4.  
        Deleting a file type and all of its extensions
    9.  
      Removing or changing the unique name for an external drive
    10.  
      Configuring default FTP settings for use with Offsite Copy
    11.  
      Logging Veritas System Recovery messages
    12.  
      Enabling email notifications for product (event) messages
    13.  
      Setting up your first backup using Easy Setup
    14.  
      Home page
    15.  
      Status page
    16.  
      Tasks page
    17.  
      Tools page
    18.  
      Advanced page
    19.  
      Using Veritas System Recovery RESTful Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
  5. Best practices for backing up your data
    1.  
      About backing up your data
    2.  
      Best practices for backing up data
    3.  
      What to do when a backup is finished
    4.  
      Tips for running defined backups
    5.  
      Backup destinations
    6.  
      Backing up dual-boot computers
    7.  
      Manually validating recovery points
  6. Backing up entire drives
    1. Defining a drive-based backup
      1. USB disk rotation
        1.  
          How USB disk rotation works
      2.  
        Rules for network credentials
      3.  
        Running command files during a backup
      4.  
        Editing backup options
      5.  
        Verifying the integrity of a recovery point
      6.  
        Viewing the progress of a backup
      7.  
        Recovery point encryption
    2.  
      Compression levels for recovery points
    3.  
      Running a one-time backup from Veritas System Recovery
    4.  
      Running a backup from Veritas System Recovery Disk
    5.  
      How Offsite Copy works
  7. Backing up files and folders
    1.  
      Backing up files and folders
  8. Running and managing backup jobs
    1. Running an existing backup job immediately
      1.  
        Running a backup to create an alternate type of recovery point
    2.  
      Adjusting the speed of a backup
    3.  
      Stopping a backup or a recovery task
    4.  
      Verifying that a backup is successful
    5.  
      Viewing the properties of a backup job
    6.  
      Editing backup settings
    7.  
      Enabling event-triggered backups
    8.  
      Editing a backup schedule
    9.  
      Disabling or enabling a backup job
    10.  
      Deleting backup jobs
    11.  
      Adding users who can back up your computer
    12.  
      Configuring access rights for users or groups
  9. Backing up remote computers from your computer
    1. About backing up other computers from your computer
      1.  
        Adding remote computers to the Computer List
      2.  
        Adding local computers to the Computer List
      3.  
        Removing a computer from the Computer List
    2. About the Veritas System Recovery Agent
      1.  
        Using the Veritas System Recovery Agent
      2.  
        About managing the Veritas System Recovery Agent through Windows Services
    3. About deploying the Veritas System Recovery Agent
      1.  
        Preparing a computer in a workgroup environment to deploy the Veritas System Recovery Agent
      2.  
        Deploying the Veritas System Recovery Agent
      3.  
        Manually installing the Veritas System Recovery Agent
    4. Best practices for Veritas System Recovery services
      1.  
        Opening Windows services
      2.  
        Starting or stopping the Veritas System Recovery Agent service
      3.  
        Setting up recovery actions when the Veritas System Recovery Agent does not start
    5.  
      Viewing Veritas System Recovery Agent dependencies
    6. About controlling access to Veritas System Recovery
      1.  
        Enabling users or groups to access Veritas System Recovery
      2.  
        Changing permissions for a user or a group
      3.  
        Disabling access for users or groups to Veritas System Recovery
      4.  
        Running Veritas System Recovery using different user rights
  10. Monitoring the status of your backups
    1. About monitoring backups
      1.  
        Refreshing the information that displays about hard disk configuration changes
    2.  
      Icons on the Home page
    3.  
      Icons on the Status page
    4.  
      Configuring Veritas System Recovery to send SNMP traps
    5.  
      Customizing the status reporting of a drive (or file and folder backups)
    6.  
      Viewing drive details
    7.  
      Improving the protection level of a drive
    8.  
      About using event log information to troubleshoot problems
  11. Monitoring the backup status of remote computers using Veritas System Recovery Monitor
    1.  
      About Veritas System Recovery Monitor
    2.  
      Starting Veritas System Recovery Monitor
    3.  
      Icons on the Veritas System Recovery Monitor console
    4.  
      Configuring Veritas System Recovery Monitor default options
    5. Adding a remote computer to the Computer List
      1.  
        Importing a text file to add multiple remote computers to the Computer List
    6.  
      Modifying the logon credentials for the remote computers
    7.  
      Removing a remote computer from the Computer List
    8.  
      Viewing the backup protection status of a remote computer
    9.  
      Viewing the Protection Status report
  12. Exploring the contents of a recovery point
    1.  
      About exploring recovery points
    2. Exploring a recovery point through Windows Explorer
      1.  
        Mounting a recovery point from Windows Explorer
    3.  
      Opening and restoring files within a recovery point browser
    4.  
      Dismounting a recovery point drive
    5.  
      Viewing the drive properties of a recovery point
  13. Managing backup destinations
    1.  
      About backup destinations
    2.  
      Differences between drive-based backups and file and folder backups
    3.  
      Cleaning up old recovery points
    4.  
      Deleting a recovery point set
    5.  
      Deleting recovery points within a recovery point set
    6.  
      Copying recovery points
    7. About managing file and folder backup data
      1.  
        Viewing the amount of file and folder backup data that is stored on a backup destination
      2.  
        Manually deleting files from your backups of files and folders
      3.  
        Finding versions of a file or folder
    8.  
      Automating the management of backup data
    9.  
      Moving your backup destination
    10.  
      About support of OneDrive for Business
  14. Managing virtual conversions
    1.  
      Defining a virtual conversion job
    2.  
      Running an existing virtual conversion job immediately
    3.  
      Viewing the properties of a virtual conversion job
    4.  
      Viewing the progress of a virtual conversion job
    5.  
      Editing a virtual conversion job
    6.  
      Deleting a virtual conversion job
    7.  
      Running a one-time conversion of a physical recovery point to a virtual disk
  15. Managing cloud storage
    1. Direct to cloud
      1.  
        Providing the OpenStorage destination path
      2.  
        OpenStorage destination options for backups
      3.  
        OpenStorage destination options for recovery
    2.  
      Downloading OpenStorage Files
    3.  
      How Offsite Copy works for cloud storage
    4. About creation of Amazon Machine Image (AMI) in Amazon from Veritas System Recovery backups
      1.  
        How to create an Amazon Machine Image (AMI)
      2.  
        How to view the conversion tasks and AMI status
    5. About S3-Compatible Cloud Storage
      1.  
        Using S3-Compatible Cloud Storage in Veritas System Recovery
    6. About Veritas System Recovery supporting Veritas Access
      1.  
        Using Veritas Access Storage in Veritas System Recovery
    7.  
      About the Cloud Instance Creator Utility
  16. Recovering files, folders, or entire drives
    1.  
      About recovering lost data
    2.  
      Recovering files and folders by using file and folder backup data
    3.  
      Recovering files and folders
    4.  
      Recovering a secondary drive
    5.  
      Recovering a drive
    6.  
      Exploring files and folders on your computer by using Veritas System Recovery Disk
    7.  
      Recovering files and folders by using Veritas System Recovery Disk
  17. Recovering a computer
    1.  
      About recovering a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)-based computer
    2. Booting a computer by using the Veritas System Recovery Disk
      1.  
        Configuring a computer to start from a USB device or DVD
    3.  
      Preparing to recover a computer by checking the hard disk for errors
    4.  
      Recovering a computer
    5.  
      Recovering a computer from a virtual disk file
    6.  
      Recovering a computer with different hardware
    7. About using the networking tools in Veritas System Recovery Disk
      1.  
        Starting networking services
      2.  
        Mapping a network drive from within Veritas System Recovery Disk
      3. Configuring network connection settings
        1.  
          Setting a status IP address to enable recovery from a recovery point on a network share or drive
        2.  
          Getting a static IP address if pinging is unsuccessful
    8.  
      Viewing the properties of a recovery point in the Veritas System Recovery Disk
    9.  
      Viewing the properties of a drive within a recovery point in the Veritas System Recovery Disk
    10.  
      About the Support Utilities
  18. Copying a hard drive
    1.  
      Preparing to copy a hard drive
    2.  
      Copying one hard drive to another hard drive
  19. Using the Veritas System Recovery Granular Restore Option
    1.  
      About the Veritas System Recovery Granular Restore Option
    2. Best practices when you create recovery points for use with the Granular Restore Option
      1.  
        Protecting your Microsoft Exchange server for successful backups
    3.  
      Starting the Granular Restore Option
    4.  
      Starting Granular Restore Option and opening a specific recovery point
    5.  
      Restoring a Microsoft Exchange mailbox
    6.  
      Restoring a Microsoft Exchange email folder
    7.  
      Restoring a Microsoft Exchange email message
    8.  
      Restoring files and folders using Granular Restore Option
  20. Appendix A. Backing up databases using Veritas System Recovery
    1.  
      About backing up databases using Veritas System Recovery
    2.  
      Creating a manual cold (offline) backup
    3.  
      Creating an automatic warm backup
    4.  
      Creating a hot (online) backup using Veritas System Recovery
  21. Appendix B. Backing up Active Directory
    1.  
      Tips for protecting a domain controller in Active Directory
  22. Appendix C. Backing up Microsoft virtual environments
    1.  
      About backing up Microsoft virtual hard disks
    2.  
      About backing up and restoring Microsoft Hyper-V virtual machines
  23. Appendix D. Using Veritas System Recovery 21 and Windows Server Core
    1.  
      About Veritas System Recovery 21 and Windows Server Core
    2.  
      Installing Veritas System Recovery 21 on Windows Server Core using commands
  24.  
    Index

Creating a new Veritas System Recovery Disk

As Microsoft no longer allows redistribution of WinPE, Veritas System Recovery 21 does not include a Veritas System Recovery Disk on a DVD media or as an ISO downloadable from the web. Veritas System Recovery 21 provides a new utility that is called System Recovery Disk Creation Utility using which you can create a system recovery disk on your computer. As a recovery disk is required to restore images created with Veritas System Recovery 21, it is imperative that you create a recovery disk using this utility. To restore the system volume images that are created using Veritas System Recovery 21, you need to create a Veritas System Recovery Disk using this utility. Veritas recommends that you create a recovery disk using this utility at the earliest. By default this utility is installed with Veritas System Recovery 21. Veritas recommends that you test the recovery disk on the computer on which you want the use it.

The System Recovery Disk Creation Utility provides two options to create a Veritas System Recovery Disk based on the disaster recovery needs. Using the Typical option, you can create a recovery disk on Windows 7 and later desktop operating systems, and Windows Server 2008 R2 and later server operating systems. Using the Advanced option, you can create a recovery disk on Windows Server 2008 and later server operating system, and Windows 7 and later desktop operating systems. This option requires the download and installation of the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) to create the Veritas System Recovery Disk. The Windows ADK can only be installed on Windows Server 2008 and later server operating systems, and Windows 7 and later desktop operating systems.

Note:

The Veritas System Recovery Disk Creation Utility only runs on Windows 7 and later operating systems.

Veritas recommends that the recovery disk is created on the latest operating system available, such as Windows 10, Windows 2016, or Windows Server 2019. The Veritas System Recovery Disk can then be used to recover images of that operating system and all previous operating systems. However, a recovery disk created on an older operating system cannot be used to recovery later operating systems. For example, a Veritas System Recovery Disk created on Windows 2008 cannot be used to recover Windows 2012 images.

The Veritas System Recovery Disk Creation Utility allows creation of a 32-bit or 64-bit recovery disk on a USB thumb drive, as an ISO file, or in the LightsOut Restore format. If the Advanced option is used, Veritas recommends using the latest version of the Windows ADK that is available. A recovery disk created with an older version of the Windows ADK can only restore operating system supported by that ADK. For example, a Veritas System Recovery Disk created using Windows ADK for Windows 8.0 (Windows 8/2012 kernel) can be used to recover Windows 8/2012 and earlier operating systems. It cannot be used to recovery later operating systems, such as Windows 8.1/2012 R2 or Windows 10/2016/2019.

A license key is not required to create a Veritas System Recovery Disk. A license key is required if additional drivers need to be added, or if specifying the startup or network options.

To create a Veritas System Recovery Disk, you can launch the Create Veritas System Recovery Disk Wizard in the following ways:

  • Launch Veritas System Recovery 21, go to the Tasks menu and click Create New Recovery Disk.

  • On the Windows taskbar, click Start > All Programs > System Recovery Disk Creator.

  • In the Veritas System Recovery Disk Status dialog box, click Create Now.

    Note:

    The Create Now button is displayed in the Veritas System Recovery Disk Status dialog box when you launch Veritas System Recovery 21 and is available only until you create the Veritas System Recovery Disk.

Note:

If you are connected to a remote computer, the Veritas System Recovery Disk Creation Wizard is not available in Veritas System Recovery 21. You cannot create a Veritas System Recovery Disk.

To create a new Veritas System Recovery Disk

  1. On the Tasks menu, click Create New Recovery Disk.

    The Veritas System Recovery Disk Creation Wizard is displayed.

  2. In the Welcome panel, review the information, and then click Next.

    See Welcome Panel.

  3. In the Creation Options panel, select the disk creation option (Typical or Advanced) to create the Veritas System Recovery Disk and click Next.

    Feature Description

    Typical

    Advanced

    Uses Windows ADK 10, version 1903

    No

    Yes

    You require an Internet connection to download Windows ADK.

    See Download and install Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK).

    Platform support

    Creates a 32-bit or a 64-bit recovery disk depending on the operating system installed on your computer.

    To create a 32-bit recovery disk, use this option on a 32-bit computer. To create a 64-bit recovery disk, use this option on a 64-bit computer.

    Creates 32-bit and 64-bit recovery disks on the same computer.

    Windows operating systems that can be recovered

    See Veritas System Recovery Disk recovery matrix.

    The computer's operating system on which you create the Veritas System Recovery Disk and all earlier versions.

    Use this option on the latest operating system to recover all Windows operating systems.

    All versions of Windows supported by the product.

    Languages available in the recovery environment

    The language of your operating system.

    One or more of the 11 supported languages selected during Veritas System Recovery Disk creation.

    Temporary disk space required on local system

    Approximately 500 MB

    Approximately 500 MB for each recovery disk that you create. More space is required for each additional language that you select.

    An additional 3.5 to 5 GB disk space is required to install Windows ADK.

    PowerShell Cmdlets support in recovery environment (for example, Storage Space Creation Cmdlets)

    Not Available

    Available

    Time required for creation (approximately)

    10 minutes

    20 minutes

    If you select more than one language, approximately 10 minutes are added for each language.

    Can be customized on other operating systems

    See Veritas System Recovery Disk customization support matrix.

    Yes

    Yes

    See Creation Options.

  4. In the Languages panel, select the languages that should be available in the recovery environment, and then click Next.

    See Languages Options.

    Note:

    The Languages panel is only available if you select the Advanced creation option.

  5. In the Veritas System Recovery Disk Storage Media/Destination panel, select the destination to save the recovery disk, and then click Next.

    Disk label

    Lets you specify the name that you want to use for the Veritas System Recovery Disk label.

    Select the platform of the recovery disk

    This option is only displayed if you select the Advanced option to create a Veritas System Recovery Disk.

    Select the 32-bit, 64-bit, or both platforms for which you want to create the Veritas System Recovery Disk.

    Select a drive to create a Veritas System Recovery Disk on a USB device

    Lets you save your new Veritas System Recovery Disk to a USB device.

    Select the media drive in which you have inserted in the USB device.

    The existing data on the USB device is not formatted during Veritas System Recovery Disk creation. If you have a recovery disk created on the same USB drive, the new recovery disk overwrites the older recovery disk.

    Note:

    Veritas recommends that only privileged users or an administrator should have the rights to access the USB folder. Veritas also recommends that the recovery media files be managed only by trusted users. This is to ensure that the files are always safe and no one can tamper with them.

    If you attach an unsupported volume to your computer, the Show Unsupported Devices link is displayed. When you click the link, the Unsupported Devices dialog box with a list of the unsupported volumes and the reason for the unsupported volume is displayed.

    A Veritas System Recovery Disk does not support the super formatted USB disk.

    Note:

    You cannot create a 64-bit Veritas System Recovery Disk if your computer has a 32-bit operating system.

    Save the Veritas System Recovery Disk as an ISO file

    Lets you save your new Veritas System Recovery Disk as an ISO file.

    Click Browse and specify the path where you want to save the ISO file.

    You can manually burn the saved ISO file to a CD/DVD/Blu-ray.

    See Veritas System Recovery Disk Storage Media/Destination Options.

  6. In the Licensed Features panel, enter the license key of the product and then click Next.

    Use the license key that is activated on this computer

    Enables the cold backup feature in the recovery environment using the product license key that is provided.

    Note:

    By default, this option is not available when you create a Veritas System Recovery Disk using the Veritas System Recovery Management Solution Mode.

    Use the following license key

    Enables the cold backup feature in the new Veritas System Recovery Disk by typing a product license key.

    Prompt for a license key

    Prompts you for a product license key at the time you want to enable features in the Veritas System Recovery Disk.

    Note:

    By default, this option is selected when you create a Veritas System Recovery Disk using the Veritas System Recovery Management Solution Mode.

    See Licensed Features Options.

  7. In the Storage and Network Drivers panel, review the list of any storage or network drivers to be included, add, or remove storage and network drivers, and then click Next.

    Storage and network drivers

    Lets you review the list of any storage or network drivers to be included.

    Add

    Lets you add additional drivers. The location that you specify should contain the fully extracted installation package for the driver you add. If you have more than one missing storage or network driver, you can click Add for each missing driver.

    See Adding a Storage or Network Driver.

    Remove

    Deletes the drivers from the driver list that is displayed on the wizard.

    Reset

    Resets the list to the original list of storage and network drivers that is detected on the computer on which the Veritas System Recovery Disk creation utility is run.

    See Storage and Network Drivers Options.

  8. In the Startup Options panel, select the time zone, display language, keyboard layout language for the Veritas System Recovery Disk, and then click Next.

    Time zone

    Sets the time zone to use for the Veritas System Recovery Disk.

    Display language

    Sets the default display language for the Veritas System Recovery Disk.

    Keyboard layout

    Lets you select the default keyboard layout to use when you boot from the Veritas System Recovery Disk.

    See Startup Options.

  9. In the Network Options panel, select the dynamic or static IP, save the Windows firewall settings to the Veritas System Recovery Disk, and then click Next.

    Automatically start network services

    Automatically starts network services when you recover the computer through LightsOut Restore. Select this option if you want to enable network services in a recovery environment.

    Dynamic IP

    Connects to a network without the need for additional network configuration. You can click this option if you know there is a DHCP server available on the network at the time you restore.

    Static IP

    Connects to a network with a particular network adapter and specific address settings. You should select this option only if you know there is no DHCP server (or the DHCP server is unavailable) when you want to recover data.

    Use Windows firewall settings

    Applies the local computer's firewall settings to the recovery environment. For example, if you turn on the firewall for your local computer and then select this option, the firewall settings are applied for the recovery environment too.

    See Network Options.

  10. In the Setup LightsOut Restore panel, select the Enable LightsOut Restore check box to enable the LightsOut Restore boot option and boot menu display time, and then click Next.

    Boot menu label

    Indicates the title that appears on the Windows boot menu for LightsOut Restore.

    Display boot menu for seconds

    Specifies how long you want the boot menu to display.

    The default is 10 seconds.

    See Setup LightsOut Restore Options.

  11. In the Summary panel, review all of the options that you selected, and then click Finish.

    The Progress panel displays the progress status and the approximate time that is required to create theVeritas System Recovery Disk. The Result panel displays a success result if the recovery disk is created successfully or a failed result if the recovery disk is not created successfully.

    When a Veritas System Recovery Disk creation fails or is stopped, the recovery disk creation process is stopped. In some cases some files are left mounted in a temporary (folder name, SymSrdTemp) location and the files cannot be deleted. The WimCleaner.exe utility unmounts any such mounted system files and deletes the temporary folder (SymSrdTemp). Veritas System Recovery provides the 32-bit version of the WimCleaner.exe utility.

    The utility is at the following location: <VSRInstallPath>\Utility\WimCleaner.exe. You can double-click the exe file to run the utility or use the command prompt to run the utility.

    Note:

    Veritas recommends that you test the recovery disk after it is created. It ensures that you can use the Veritas System Recovery Disk to start your computer and can access the drive that contains your recovery points.

    See Testing the Veritas System Recovery Disk.

  12. Click Close to close the wizard.