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Scripted backup of Server 2008 using robocopy or other

Hiya,

We need a script to be able to have filebased backups for webserver with several hundred webpages, where we can also restore single files if possible.
I know most people suggesting backup software such as Veritas or Acronis (no 2008 support yet anyway), but we need to use build in tools to achieve that. Why Microsoft remove ntbackup is beyond me ...

The best solution would be a VBS script of some sort. I found some hints here in EE but most of them end up using third party tools which we need to avoid.

Also : System State ... did someone manage to make a System Stage backup of Server 2008 using build in tools ?

tigermatt

Microsoft did remove ntbackup, but they have replaced it with a program called Windows Server Backup. I will admit now that this isn't nearly as good as ntbackup - they have tried to simplify the interface too much, and lost many features in the process. However, Windows Server Backup does provide a very good command line tool - wbadmin - which can be used to execute backups on a schedule.

To run backups, you can save the command below into a batch file and set the batch file in Task Scheduler (or run it manually).

wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:\\servername\share\folder -include:C:,D: -allCritical -vssFull -quiet

You will need to change the value after backup target to either a network location or a local partition on the server to save the backup to. You also need to specify the drives to include in the backup after the include paramter (comma-delimited list).

System State backups are also possible through wbadmin, but they must be done to a local drive. Also, they cannot overwrite each other at this stage, so you will need to manually erase the oldest system state backups as they start to fill up.

wbadmin is described in more detail - including the procedure for system state backups - at http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer2008/en/library/4b0b3f32-d21f-4861-84bb-b2eadbf1e7b81033.mspx

-tigermatt

titanmike

ASKER

But as I say - we need file / folder backup .. wbadmin uses image based technology ....

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tigermatt

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