I provide support for a small, (at least in regards to the IT systems),
defense contractor. Among my responsibilities is disaster recovery
planning/preparation for several Windows application servers. Using
third-party backup software with DR capabilities and bootable tape
drives, the off-site/dissimilar hardware recovery under NT and Win2k is
possible and for us, well practiced. I am currently starting to look at
DR under Windows2003.

While my site is large enough to qualify for open licensing, I noticed
that OEM and retail versions of Windows2003 server have product
activation. The third-party and MS knowledge-base articles I’ve seen
seem to suggest that dissimilar hardware recovery isn’t possible with
these versions. (Although I know from experience, they often mean “not
supported”)

Is it really that bad, or does the recovery process allow the entry of
valid activation data for the hardware that is currently being utilized.
It seems very limiting have a server that can’t be recovered from tape.
(And if you still have all the same hardware, I’d hardly consider it a
disaster).