On a Windows 2000 Server computer where you have created a mirrored volume for fault tolerance, what additional item should you create to protect your ability to start the system?

Introduction / Context:
Mirrored volumes in Windows 2000 Server are used to provide disk-level fault tolerance by keeping an identical copy of data on two physical disks. However, simply creating a mirror does not fully guarantee that you will be able to boot the operating system if the primary system disk fails. This question tests whether you understand the importance of creating a special boot disk that knows how to find and start Windows from the mirrored drive in case of disk failure. It connects the concepts of fault tolerance, boot configuration, and disaster recovery planning.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The server is running Windows 2000 Server.
A mirrored volume has been configured for fault tolerance.
The administrator wants to improve the chances of successfully starting the system after a disk failure.
You must choose which additional item should be created on or for the server.
The environment uses standard Windows 2000 boot mechanisms with mirrored volumes.

Concept / Approach:
When you configure a mirror of the system volume, the data is protected, but the system boot process still depends on the boot sector and the boot loader configuration. In Windows 2000, a fault tolerance boot disk is a special floppy disk that contains a copy of the system’s boot sector and the correct Boot.ini configuration, pointing to the mirrored drive. If the primary disk fails, you boot from this floppy, and the operating system can load from the remaining mirror. Without such a boot disk, the server might not know where to find the system files after a hardware failure.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognize that a mirrored volume protects data by duplicating it on two disks, but it does not automatically handle all boot-time problems. Step 2: Review the options. Config.nt and Autoexec.nt are compatibility files used for running older 16-bit applications and do not directly relate to disk mirroring or system startup. Step 3: A set of Windows 2000 Setup Boot Disks is used to start the Windows 2000 installation or recovery process, not specifically to boot from a mirror after a failure. Step 4: A fault tolerance boot disk is designed exactly for this situation: it contains a working boot sector and Boot.ini entries that point to the mirrored system volume. Step 5: Conclude that the correct additional item to create is a dedicated fault tolerance boot disk.

Verification / Alternative check:
Think through a failure scenario. If the primary system disk that normally holds the active boot sector fails, the machine may not start from the remaining disk even though the data is mirrored. With a fault tolerance boot disk inserted, the BIOS can read the boot sector from the floppy, and that boot sector points to the remaining mirror. This confirms that the disk is an essential companion to a mirrored system volume in Windows 2000.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A new Config.nt file – This is used for legacy application environment settings, not for booting from a mirror.
A new Autoexec.nt file – Similar to Config.nt, this is for 16-bit application compatibility and does not help with fault tolerant startup.
A set of Windows 2000 Setup Boot Disks – Useful for installation and general recovery, but not specifically tuned to boot from your mirrored system partition with its exact configuration.

Common Pitfalls:
Many administrators assume that configuring a mirror alone is sufficient, forgetting that the boot process may still depend on a specific physical disk. Others confuse Windows Setup boot disks with a customized fault tolerance boot disk. On exams and in real environments, always distinguish between generic installation media and a boot disk tailored to your server's actual disk and Boot.ini setup. Regularly test your recovery process rather than relying purely on theory.

Final Answer:
When you create a mirrored volume for fault tolerance on a Windows 2000 Server, you should also create a fault tolerance boot disk to ensure that the system can still start if the primary system disk fails.