WHS is remarkable - and all the better now it’s likely to be available within the next few weeks (unless you were hoping for a HP unit of course).
I’ve really got one concern - the SYSTEM partition.
The data, which is pretty important to be protected (one of the main points of WHS, is the data duplication feature) - is quite safe.
The WHS backup (which is excellent, and data easy to get to, even at file level) just works - automatically.
But, the OS partition (20GB allocated, normally 5GB used) is where the data drive mapping, user configurations etc is held - not to mention the operating system itself.
So with mind in gear I set to reviewing how, on a headless system (no keyboard,mouse, or screen), one could take a secure snapshot of the system after users / shares / folders / backups / etc were all set up, and recover it back to this state.
Of course a WHS client plug in is not the solution, as the OS may not boot. Perhaps an application on the OS itself, again ‘no’ as the OS may not boot, and you can’t ’see it’ anyway.
So the only solution was to work up from scratch. The answer was to ‘image’ the OS partition,and provide a solution to ‘recover’ this image, at pre OS level - ie immediately after P.O.S.T. -oh, and to do this, without ANY screen, keyboard, mouse, or remote desktop !
First Issue - getting the BIOS to ALWAYS boot from a USB(Flash)HDD (the device with the tricky imaging software on it). This is easy when you have a screen/keyboard - you just change the HDD boot priority. But without a screen, it’s near impossible - as the ‘physical HDD’ will always rank 1st in the boot order, even if a bootable USB (in HDD mode) is present. Fixing this for the T7-HSA was not simple - but eventually we did ‘fix’ the BIOS. This ensured that if a USB stick (with bootable files) was ever present the system would always boot from it - 1st step completed.
Second issue - to ‘image’ the OS partition to a ’secret’ new partition. This is normally done by user intervention, but here we had to get it done, without any user control - we succeeded - not easy - but it was done. So now we have an optimised BIOS, with a bootable USB key, that whenever inserted boots and images the OS partition ‘as is’ - then shuts down the system - just to say ‘it’s done’. You’ll have to keep your eye on the power LED for this - as the unit is so quiet, you’ll not know it’s shut down.
Third issue - to ‘recover’ the image to the OS partition. This was relatively easy, as it is a reversal of the second issue (above).
This HAD to work, without affecting the USER data, USER settings, USER folders, etc - and I’m pleased to say it does - phew !
(My thanks to Christian in Germany, for exceptional assistance, in helping us in this project - you know who you are !)
So now with these two ‘magic’ USB keys, I am able to ’securely image’ a configured WHS OS partition - and then, as needed, if needed, bring back the latest configuration and OS partition. All without a keyboard, mouse, screen, or remote desktop ! Viola
The above ‘magic’ keys will be shipped with the Tranquil T7-HSA (Harmony Home Servers) - as we know that ‘if’ or ‘when’ a recovery is needed, there must be a quick and easy solution - this is it. (either operation takes approx. 6-7 minutes)
Remember this is not a ‘factory’ recovery button - it is a ‘user setup’ recovery. If it was a ‘factory recovery’ or ’system re-installation’ we are very worried what happens to the ‘data’ especially that on the ‘additional HDDs’ (as they ‘may’ be seen as ‘new devices’ and only way to ‘add them’ to the pool, is to format (ouch) them.
Keeping It Simple
UPDATE : The recovery kit !!
Update - Recovery Operation Real World experience
Once the T7-HSA has been set up and ‘Imaged’ - it can be ‘taken back’ :
Process is :-
1. Remove any USB HDDs.
2. Power up unit with ‘Recovery’ USB stick plugged in.
3. USB ‘Green’ LED shows activity (flashing) whilst the unit is prepared (approx 5 minutes), then -
4. System ‘Red’ HDD LED shows activity (flasing) indicating the recovery is in process (approx 6 minutes), then -
5. System shuts down (all LEDs are OFF) - system has been successfuly restored.
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