Windows Server Backup: How to Install and Use It
Data protection is paramount for every organisation, given the potential fallout of unforeseen events such as system glitches, hardware malfunctions, or cyber breaches. An integral part of numerous businesses, Windows Server demands a dependable backup strategy to safeguard critical data from harm.
- In this article you will learn:
- Learn how to use Windows Server Backup for data protection and business continuity.
- Explore best practices for securing critical data on Windows Server.
- Discover the best practices for selecting and using background images effectively.
Table of Contents
What is Windows Server Backup?
Windows Server Backup provides tools to back up and restore your server’s data, system state, or the entire server. It allows you to schedule regular backups or perform one-time backups, ensuring you can recover quickly from failures.
Key features and benefits of Windows Server Backup include:
- Full Server Backup: Save a complete server image, including the OS, system state, applications, and data.
- Custom Backup: Choose specific volumes or folders for tailored backup options.
- Incremental Backup: Only changes since the last backup are saved after the first full backup, reducing backup time and storage use.
- Scheduled Backups: Automate regular backups without user intervention.
- Bare Metal Recovery: Restore an entire server, including the OS, from a backup.
- VSS Integration: Backup open or in-use files consistently using Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS).
- Item-level Recovery: Restore individual files or folders without completing a system restore.
How to Install Windows Server Backup?
The installation is a straightforward process. However, before you begin, ensure all other applications are closed, and no critical tasks are running on your Server, as the installation will require a restart. Follow these steps to install the feature:
1. Open the Server Manager and click on Manage at the top right screen.
2. Select Add Roles and Features
3. After reading the introduction, click on the Next
4. Click on Next for the installation type
5. Click on Next for Server selection
6. Click on Next for Server Role
7. In the features section, click on the Windows Server Backup checkbox
8. On the confirmation box, tick the Restart the destination server check box
9. Finally, click on Install.
You have successfully installed the Windows Server Image Backup feature on your Server. The information needed to set up a backup server is above.
How to Perform a One Time Backup with Windows Backup?
These are the steps to run a manual backup using Windows backup:
1. Open the Backup application. Click on the Backup Once button in the top left corner.
2. In the Backup Once wizard, Click on the Different options and click Next
3. Select Full Server (If you want, you can click on Custom) and click Next
4. Click on the Local drive (If you want, click on the remote shared folder) and click Next.
5. Select the destination backup volume and click Next
6. If you get any warning messages, ready carefully and Click OK
7. Review the configuration setting and click on Backup Button once you are ready
After clicking Backup, Windows will start backing up to your chosen location. Backup duration depends on disk size and destination path.
How to Perform a Scheduled Backup with Windows Backup?
If you want to schedule the Backup that automatic server backup to happen routinely, then you can follow the given steps below for a more efficient way of backing up a Server:
1. Open the Backup application.
2. Click on the Backup Scheduled button in the top left corner.
3. Read the getting started message in the backup wizard and Click Next.
4. Select Backup Types as Full Server or Custom
5. You can set up how many times the Windows Server Backup will run and Backup your data under the Specify Backup Time tab. Choose according to your needs.
6. Click on Next, and the Specify Destination Type, where you have to choose whether to save on Local drives or a Remote shared folder.
7. On Select destination volume, please select the destination disk and click on Next
8. Click on Backup once you are ready to start the Backup of your Server.
Scheduling the backup to run routinely is a great idea as it can save data that you might otherwise forget to do so in the Backup Once option.
How to Restore Windows Server From Server Backups?
You can restore your Server using the Windows Server Backup and Restore feature and the backup you have already created. We have broken down these steps below to restore your Server Backup.
1. Open Windows Backup.
2. Click on the Recovery button at the top left corner.
3. Select the Backup you want to restore, and you can choose from This Server or A backup stored in another location.
4. On the Backup Date section, select the date of the Server backup you want to restore
5. Select the recovery type as File and Folders (you can either choose to restore files and folders or an entire volume through the options Files and Folders, Volumes, Hyper-V, Applications and System State. Select what suits you best)
6. Select the file you want to Restore
7. In the next tab, you can select the recovery destination and pick the Original location or Another location.
8. Make sure to check all the settings. Click on the Recover button.
The restore process will take time to finish based on the restore type you have chosen.
How to Uninstall Windows Server Backup?
Removal \ uninstall is a straightforward process. However, before you begin, ensure all other applications are closed, and no critical tasks are running on your Server, as the uninstallation will require a restart. Follow these steps to uninstall the feature:
1. Open the Server Manager and click on Manage at the top right screen.
2. Select Remove Roles and Features
3. After reading the introduction, Click on Next.
4. Select the correct Server and Click on Next
5. Click on Next for Server Role
6. In the features section, untick the Windows Server Backup check box
7. Click on the Remove Features button and Click on Next
8. On the confirmation box, tick the Restart the destination server check box
9. Finally, Click on Remove
You have successfully uninstalled the Windows Server Backup feature on your Server.
Troubleshooting Common Windows Server Backup Issues
When working with Windows Server Backup, you may encounter common issues such as:
- Backup Failures Due to Volume Errors: Ensure all volumes are accessible and not corrupted.
- VSS Writer Errors: Ensure the Volume Shadow Copy Service is running correctly. Restart the service if necessary.
What Are the Benefits of Windows Server Backup?
Windows Server Backup offers several benefits for data protection, including:
- User-friendly interface and command-line tool (wbadmin.exe) for managing backups.
- Support for full, incremental, and differential backups.
- Bare-metal recovery for fast, comprehensive system restores.
- Compression and encryption options to reduce backup sizes and improve security.
Windows Server Backup Limitation to Consider
Despite its advantages, there are a few limitations to consider:
- It does not back up data from network locations (e.g., mapped drives).
- It does not support the backup of open files or databases without VSS integration.
- Backups are limited to local drives and attached storage.
- You should explore third-party solutions for more advanced backup options like deduplication and reconsider exploring data protection (CDP) in the cloud.
Alternates to the inbuilt Backup Application on Windows
Although Windows Backup offers a primary backup solution, it might only cater to the diverse needs of some users, particularly those searching for more advanced features like incremental or differential backups.
IT professionals often prefer to use a Windows backup alternative with a broader range of features and dedicated support from the vendor.
Numerous modern backup solutions have cutting-edge features, such as continuous data protection, versioning, and seamless cloud integration, granting comprehensive data security.
Investing in specialised backup for Windows Server software ensures your critical data remains fully safeguarded and recoverable across diverse scenarios.
Take the time to research and identify the backup solution that best aligns with your organisation’s unique needs, maximising data protection and minimising potential risks.
Common Backup And Restore Methods
Different backup and restore methods have pros and cons. If you work within strict RTO and RPO guidelines, you must follow industry standards such as backup type and frequency.
- A full-image backup backs up a complete copy of the data source you want to protect. It is the best option if you want to recover your entire system in one go without follow-on incremental or differential backups.
- An incremental backup backs up only the data that has changed since the last backup. Incremental backups are faster to create than full-image backups but can be slower to restore.
- A differential backup will back up all data that has changed since the last full-image backup. Differential backups are faster to create than full-image backups and quicker to restore than incremental backups.
- Under CDP, your data will clone when changed; that protection offers you the most comprehensive and granular coverage.
- Bare-metal backup backs up the whole computer or server, and you can restore it to bare-metal hardware.
Conclusion:
Windows Server Backup is an essential tool for protecting your server data. It offers a simple and reliable solution for full server, custom, and scheduled backups. Whether performing one-time backups or automating your backup routine, mastering this feature will help ensure the safety and recoverability of your critical data.
Investing in regular backups is critical to safeguarding your business against unexpected disruptions, making Windows Server Backup a vital part of your IT strategy.