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I have a Windows Server 2012 production server I am running with RDS set up. I want to copy everything I have done to set up this RDS server (user profiles, files, settings, etc) and make a second server identical to it. Obviously, I would want the second server to have a different name and SID so they can both be active in the same network and joined to my domain.

I currently have a Windows Backup image of the first server that I am trying to deploy to the second server, but I am afraid I may be going in the wrong direction.

Thank you in advance for your help!

voretaq7
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Pratt Hinds
  • 143

3 Answers3

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According to Microsoft, you can sysprep a Windows 2012 server running RDS. Since you already have a backup of a functioning server, you can:

  1. Restore that backup.
  2. Disconnect the network cable.
  3. Boot the server.
  4. Make sure you have a functional local administrator account.
  5. Run c:\windows\system32\sysprep.exe and pick OOBE. You don't need Generalize unless the hardware is different.
  6. Reboot.
  7. Let the server boot up to the login screen.
  8. Connect the network cable.
  9. Log in as a local administrator.
  10. Join the computer to the domain.
  11. Proceed. (Profit?)
longneck
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3

Your best bet is to build a new server, join it to your domain, then configure RDS on it. Imaging an existing server, and then attempting to break it down and reform it into a new one is going to be a huge headache.

DanBig
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-2

I needed an identical copy of a user's machine once and used Redo Backup to create a bare metal restore. Very easy, fast and complete success. Given it was a PC and not a server I don't know how well this would work for you. If you can play with your second server, I would just give it a try. http://redobackup.org/

Dante777
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