Backup & restore

[M$]

When using NTBACKUP to backup a W2k DC with AD, exchange server 5.5, file &
printer services, etc., what is the correct procedure?

Are there certain services that need to be shutdown in order to backup? I
need to be able to completely restore the server in case of disaster
recovery like a failed HD, building burns down, etc.

I noticed in the backup log there are lots of warnings about not being able
to backup open files, is there a way to do that? I have to be able to backup
every file on that server, including system state, exchange, AD, etc.

Is NTBackup a viable tool to do that?

We currently have BackupExec. 8.5 and it has given us lots of trouble &
upgrading to the latest version is very expensive, plus given the problems
we have with 8.5, I'm not convinced that it will be any better.

 

[Simon Geary]

First of all, you do not need to back up every file on a server to get an
adequate backup so the first thing to do is look at what you really want
backed up. Don't just try to cover yourself by backing up everything as it
will prove expensive in tapes and is really not necessary.

For a domain controller, all you need to back up is the system state to
have a full backup of Active Directory. There is no requirement to back up
any of the file system if your DCs are, as recommended, not performing any
other roles. ntbackup can perform the system state backup without issue and
open files will not be a problem.

My Exchange backup knowledge is somewhat hazy but I do not believe open
files would be an issue when performing an Exchange backup either.

The open files problem comes when backing up the file system, eg for file
servers. ntbackup doesn't have any open file backups, you need some 3rd
party tools for this. What are the actual files that are not being backed up
because they are open? If it is a .sys or .exe, for example, you probably
don't care because you shouldn't normally need to back up those kinds of
files. If it is a .doc or .xls that is a different matter and you may want
to back these up, but ntbackup wont be able to do it for you.