Create A System Image - Celestix E6600 Installation Manual

5

Create a System Image

Creating a system image, or snapshot, will provide an option to help remediate issues that may result
from future updates or changes to the saved configuration. The image is created in the recovery system
process where the main operating system is not running. Thus the system can be restored to the saved
configuration, even if the operating system performance or functionality has been affected.
Important: A system image is intended to complement, not replace, regular backups through the
Windows® OS.
The instructions below cover the appliance front panel Last Good Version (LGV) feature, which is
accessed through the Jog Dial. LGV is an offline tool and requires that the system be rebooted to access
it, but is convenient during setup because it can be run from the IPMI.
Note: The web UI also contains a System Imaging feature (System|System Imaging). It requires the use
of a web browser, but can run when the operating system is loaded (online), or after a restart before the
appliance boots into the operating system (offline). Online, or real-time images use more disk space than
offline imaging, but they don't interrupt the services the appliance provides.
LGV
The LGV instructions below require direct access to the Celestix appliance.
To create an LGV
Notes:
• It may help to read through all of the instructions before starting the procedure.
1. Shutdown the appliance.
2. Connect a KVM to the appliance.
3. After the POST screen, you will see Celestix Boot Loader.
4. Select the Celestix Rescue Mode. This menu provides you an option to restore the factory image
or restore any existing LGV.
5. If you have done this correctly, you will enter the Celestix Rescue Mode, and the System
Restore menu should appear on-screen to the connected VGA output.
A. FOR SYSTEM RESTORE (Factory reset): Once in the System Restore menu, use the
Keyboard to navigate to the caret ["<<" Symbol] to the "System Restore" option.
B. FOR LGV: You will also notice an option to "Create/Restore LGV", which stands for "Last Good
Version". This is where you will later go to create an image backup of your functioning
configuration.
6. When asked to confirm your choice, press arrow keys to navigate the caret ["<<" Symbol] to "OK"
or "YES" and press enter (depending on the hardware platform).
7. The appliance will now restore to the Factory state from a complete system image (SYSTEM
RESTORE), or a snapshot compressed and stored in a separate partition (LGV).
CRITICAL: The appliance will boot to Windows Server after the Restore is complete; however, DO NOT
interact with the appliance in any way until it has completed the full configuration process. The appliance
will reboot, on its own, approximately 3 times while it runs scripts to install drivers, system files and any
application components. Please DO NOT DISCONNECT ANY NETWORK CABLES.
8. Once the appliance restores to factory it will shut down.
The Saving System Image screen will show a progress indicator and an estimated time to completion for
the image copy process.
Caution:
• DO NOT ACCESS OR TURN OFF THE APPLIANCE DURING THIS PROCESS.
• The appliance will shut down when the LGV process is complete.
41 E Series Installation Guide