Uranium and NTBACKUP: how to automatically
perform a System State backup
This tutorial shows a possibility of synergy between Uranium and ntbackup (the
backup program integrated in Windows 2000, XP, 2003) .
We will see in a few simple steps how you can perform an automatic backup of the
System State and then copy the backup in the desired destinations via Uranium Backup.
The System State backup includes, among other things, the Windows Registry and Active
Directory (if the server is a domain controller). In order to see the detailed list
of the data included in the System State backup, please see this page from Microsoft
site:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc785306.aspx.
NTBACKUP (Windows 2000, XP, 2003):
To backup the System State we must simply call from Uranium the Windows system application
called "ntbackup" sending to it some simple parameters. This application is able
to create a backup file containing the System State, that can be used to restore
some system settings the in case of crash.
Let's see the simple configuration to be done on Uranium:
First, let's click on the options of the Backup Set to which we want to add the
backup of the System State:
Then, let's go in the panel "Other" and set the options like shown the image below:
In the panel of the "Actions to do BEFORE", we must check the option
"Run a program or a file:", then we must insert the command "ntbackup" like we can
see in the image:
ntbackup backup systemstate /J "SystemStateBackup" /F "C:\SystemStateData\SystemStateBackup.bkf"
The parameter /J simply specify the name of the backup job, while
the parameter /F, more important, specify the path and the name
of the backup file that will be created. We must place this file in a folder that
will be copied by Uranium, or to be more precise, in a folder that is a Backup Set
item.
Let's check the option "Wait for the end of the execution up to a maximum of..."
and set the maximum time we think is needed by the backup of the System State (commonly
this operation requires several minutes, so we can set for example 3600, one hour).
Uranium will wait for the end of the System State backup or up to the timeout before
starting its backup.
In order to make effective this configuration we must click on the "Apply" button.
In the "Items and Destinations" panel we could have a configuration like that shown
in the image below:
In the image we can see circled by red the item where the System State backup will
be created. Then this folder, with all the other items, will be copied on tape by
Uranium.
Before proceed with the backup, Uranium will execute ntbackup, which will open showing
the following progress window:
In the meanwhile Uranium will show the following waiting message:
When the creation of the System State backup will be completed, Uranium will start
with its backup operations.
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For any question or technical information about this tutorial you can post a message
in the
support
forum.
2003 server, Windows 2000 server, Windows XP. How to use Ntbackup to make
syste state backup, including the windows registry and active directory