How to Clone a Physical Server to a New Hard Drive

If you are considering upgrading your server's hardware, such as replacing the hard disk with a larger or faster one, cloning the server onto the new hard disk allows for a smooth transfer of all data, settings, and configurations without the need to reinstall the operating system and applications.

Chat with Our Experts!

Click here to contact our experts for a free evaluation

Start a live chat with an EaseUS Expert to tailor an enterprise backup solution specific to your requirements. We are here to assist you with the following as well:

• Commence a free trial
• Obtain a quotation
• Arrange a free demonstration

In this article, we will outline two methods to assist you in successfully completing the cloning process. You can choose the method that best suits your needs to perform the clone operation.

Clone a Physical Server to a New Hard Drive Using EaseUS Todo Backup Enterprise

EaseUS Todo Backup Enterprise is a user-friendly tool that can assist you in easily cloning your physical server to a new hard drive with just a few simple steps.

Step1. Please install and launch EaseUS Todo Backup Enterprise on the server from which you wish to clone the data.
Step2. To clone a disk, navigate to the home page and click on the clone option. Choose the source disk that you wish to clone and select the new hard disk where you want the data to be transferred. All data, including the operating system and programs, can be transferred from one disk to another.

Step3. If the target hard disk is an SSD, click Layout to enable Optimize for SSD option. The sector by sector clone option will back up all contents of your data, including emptied sectors. This option is not necessary if your new hard disk is healthy.

Step4. Click proceed to start the clone process. After the cloning process is finished, please power off the server and proceed to swap out the old hard drive with the newly cloned one.

Step5. We also offer a schedule clone option that allows you to set the task to run automatically at a specific time or at regular intervals.

Clone a Physical Server to a New Hard Drive Using Windows Server Backup

Windows Server Backup is a budget-friendly option for disk upgrades. If you are comfortable with Windows Server, this method is a viable choice to consider. Below is a detailed guide on how to backup and restore hard drive data to another drive.

Step1. Once Windows Server Backup is on the server you want to clone, launch it on the Server Manager dashboard.

Step2. Right-click on Local Backup in the pop-up window and select Backup Once from the menu that appears. 

Step3. Select Full Server and click Next. Then choose the target hard disk as the destination to store your backup.

Step4. After reviewing the backup settings and then click on Backup to initiate the process. Once the backup is complete, shut down the server and replace the old hard drive with the new hard drive.

Sum Up

EaseUS Todo Backup Enterprise is compatible with specific hardware and operating systems, which makes it a more reliable option for cloning a physical server. It also provides improved performance and efficiency for cloning large or complex physical servers, leading to faster recovery times and minimizing the chances of data loss. Try it now to discover more.

FAQs for How to Clone a Physical Server to a New Hard Drive

1. What tools do I need to clone a physical server to a new hard drive?
You will need the cloning software EaseUS Todo Backup Enterprise. You will also need a new hard drive of equal or larger capacity than the original server.

2. Do I need to back up my data before cloning the server?
It is always recommended to back up your data before performing any major operations such as cloning a server. This will ensure that your data is safe in case anything goes wrong during the cloning process.

3. How long does it take to clone a physical server to a new hard drive?
The time it takes to clone a server depends on the size of the server's data and the speed of your hardware. It can take anywhere from a few hours to several hours to complete the cloning process.