How should I be backing up Domain Controllers (2008 R2)

Forums › IT Pro and developers › How should I be backing up Domain Controllers (2008 R2)

lyonrouge

1993 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 20

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#112442 9-Dec-2012 08:31

After my Exchange Server 2010 recovery and database restore experience, I discovered my Windows Server Backup wasn't backing up everything I thought it was, and a manual database restore we needed.

I read up a little on DC backup and it appears the "all" option is insufficient for DCs, is there an option in Windows Server Backup that I can use to make it backup everything needed to recover/restore a DC or do I need to use other software?

insane

3324 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1006

ID Verified

Trusted

2degrees

Subscriber

#729173 9-Dec-2012 08:54

I've always used Commvault with the AD idataAgent , gives you the option to restore a DC as non-authorative , authorative or as the sole DC.

The other day someone was telling me that in server 2012 such options are built in, although that may have been if running under hyper-v

lyonrouge

1993 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 20

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#729175 9-Dec-2012 09:13

I think my paranoia is misplaced. From reading more articles it appears system state was not included in the original release of Windows Server Backup UI (only command line wbadmin). It appears that system state backup in the current version is sufficient for a DC restore. I'll restore one later this week to verify.

raytaylor

4076 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1296

Trusted

#733141 16-Dec-2012 14:07

I will install the server, load on the clients software and data, then run a full backup using the windows backup to a portable hard drive.
That is kept offsite at our office in the vault.

I then install our babble backup client and it will back up the day-to-day file changes such as their documents, sql database, exchange, active directory and system state via the internet.

Then if they install some major new software (such as change their accounting program) will i go in and do another windows backup to the hard drive.

So when it comes time to restore, i can use the hard drive as a bare metal restore, and then just download from babble the latest data files and changes.

Ray Taylor

There is no place like localhost

Spreadsheet for Comparing Electricity Plans Here