Cannot Merge Remote Storage Service Databases to Combine Managed Volumes

When you are running the Remote Storage Server (RSS) service on Windows 2000-based servers, you cannot import volumes and recall/migrate data from one server running RSS to another server running RSS

For example, assume that server A and server B are both running RSS to manage volumes. Either server B fails, or you decide to combine servers A and B. You cannot bring the RSS-managed volumes and storage device (the device containing the off-line/migrated data) from server B to server A unless you "unmanage" the volumes and recall all data from offline/secondary storage.

This restriction occurs because Windows 2000 uses one RSS database (%SystemRoot%\System32\RemoteStorage\Engdb) for all managed volumes on a server. This restriction also prevents using RSS on systems using server clustering. You must "unmanage" RSS-managed volumes by using any of the following methods:

• Remove the volumes from the list of managed volumes in the Remote Storage snap-in and recall all of the data from offline/secondary storage.
• Uninstall the Remote Storage Server service. This displays an option to recall all migrated data before removing the service.
• Perform a full backup of the volume (do not back up the data in the Remote Storage tool). Use this backup media and the Remote Storage tool to restore data to the volume. Remote Storage stores these files on tape using a tape format that can be read by Ntbackup.exe and other backup utilities that use Microsoft Tape Format (MTF).

After you use one of these methods, you can add the volume to the computer and add it as an RSS-managed volume on the local server.