You can use DiRT to back up and restore data when you are required to replace or reinstall all software on the server because the server is currently running Windows 2000 Server. However, two other tools, COBRAS and GSM, have some advantages over DiRT that may make them more useful in some situations.

Backing Up and Restoring Using DiRT

•DiRT backs up all of the data in the Unity SQL Server database and all of the registry entries in the Active Voice (Unity) hive of the Windows registry.

•DiRT can back up data in one AD forest and restore data to a Unity server in another forest, with the same server name or a different name.

•DiRT can only back up all of the data on one server and restore all data on another server. You cannot back up or restore a subset of subscribers or other objects.

•Backing up and restoring messages is only necessary if you are moving data to a Unity server in another forest. DiRT can back up and restore secure messages.

•If you back up data on one Unity server and restore it on another server in the same forest, you must either uninstall Unity on the old server or disconnect the old server from the network.

•When restoring data from a DiRT backup, you must restore to the same version of Unity that you backed up.

Moving Data Using Only GSM

•GSM moves subscriber data between Unity servers; you must configure Digital Networking before you can use GSM.

•GSM moves only top-level subscriber data, for example, alias, display name, extension, TUI password, and recorded voice name.

•GSM allows you to move subscriber data between a server running one version of Unity and a server running the same version or a later version of Unity.

•GSM allows you to move a subset of Unity subscribers from one server to another server.

•After GSM creates a subscriber account on the new server, GSM automatically deletes the corresponding account from the old server.

•Because very little subscriber data is moved and no non-subscriber data is moved, GSM prompts you to specify the template to use for the subscribers you are moving, and prompts you how to resolve references, for example, to call handlers that exist on one server and not the other.

•The Unity servers must be in the same forest.

Moving Data Using Only COBRAS

•COBRAS moves much more data than GSM but less data than DiRT. For information on which data is moved and which is not moved, see the COBRAS help at http://ciscounitytools.com/Applications/General/COBRAS/Help/COBRAS.htm.

•COBRAS allows you to move subscriber data between a server running one version of Unity and a server running the same version or a later version of Unity.

•Backing up and restoring messages is only necessary if you are moving data to a Unity server in another forest. COBRAS cannot back up secure messages.

•If you back up data on one Unity server and restore it on another server in the same forest, you must manually delete subscriber data on the old server before you restore.

•COBRAS allows you to move a subset of Unity subscribers and other objects from one server to another server.

Moving Data Using GSM and COBRAS Together

•The data that GSM moves is a subset of the data that COBRAS backs up and restores.

•When using GSM and COBRAS together, you first use COBRAS to back up all data on the old server, then use GSM to move subscriber data between servers, and finally use COBRAS to restore additional subscriber data and to move other Unity objects. You must configure Digital Networking before you can use GSM.

•After GSM creates a subscriber account on the new server, GSM automatically deletes the corresponding account from the old server.

•Using GSM and COBRAS together allows you to move subscriber data between a server running one version of Unity and a server running the same version or a later version of Unity.

•Using GSM and COBRAS together allows you to move a subset of Unity subscribers and other objects from one server to another server.