NTBackup is gone from Windows Server 2008?

re: NTBackup is gone from Windows Server 2008?

Stuart — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:50:33 GMT

Windows Server Backup also can not backup Exchange databases, which was also a good option to have in an emergency.

re: NTBackup is gone from Windows Server 2008?

Orin Thomas — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:45:14 GMT

Actually there are some other significant differences in how Windows Server Backup works compared to NT Backup. For example the "minimum unit of backup" is the volume. You can't create a backup job for just a specific file or folder (though you can restore an individual file or folder). You can also set backup to write to multiple devices at the same time, allowing you to send one USB HDD off site while keeping the other in the server room.

You don't select a differential/incremental or normal backup in setting up the schedule - you create a schedule and then determine whether it will be normal each time or incremental each time as a performance option (if you choose incremental, the first backup is normal).

Lots of good info on Windows Server Backup at:

http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/library/00162c92-a834-43f9-9e8a-71aeb25fa4ad1033.mspx

NTBackup is gone from Windows Server 2008? Michael Kleef #MSFT#

Brian H. Madsen - .Net Powered by Caffeine — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:41:58 GMT

Having never really liked NTBackup, i can't say that i'm saddened that it's been replaced

re: NTBackup is gone from Windows Server 2008?

mkleef — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:35:01 GMT

Stuart/Orin - I guess my point here was that the backup in the Windows Server was never really designed to be an enterprise backup tool - and Exchange DB backup is more than basic backup capability. While NTbackup did do these things before - it was always positioned at the smaller business end of the market.

The changes in Windows Server 2008 now reflect this position.

re: NTBackup is gone from Windows Server 2008?

Marcos — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:56:49 GMT

There's also a nice little catch to Windows Server Backup - it doesn't let you backup files from a drive > 2TB.

ntbackup let you backup files from a drive this large, so you're kind of screwed now with windows server 2008.

Windows Server 2008 and native support for tape back-up

SBS Down Under — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:40:04 GMT

Lots of questions at the recent Wave roadshow around our decision to remove native support for tape back-up

re: NTBackup is gone from Windows Server 2008?

mark anyon — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:21:04 GMT

We have over 100 small business site using ntbackup to back up to tape. I hope that SBS 2008 can backup to tape without requiring 3rd party apps.

It appears to me that its a loss of funtionality now that tape backup is not supported natively in win 2008.

For a site that needs to backup 50gb or so every night, tape is ideal. Offsite storage is convenient with a tape. Tape drive capacity's have grown lately to match growing data requirements.

This is one reason for us not to rush our sites to win 2008 !

re: NTBackup is gone from Windows Server 2008?

Dean Calvert — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:15:27 GMT

It's true that SBS2008 won't support tape backup natively - same as Windows Server 2008. You will need a 3rd party application to support backup to tape. However you can still READ from tape backups using NTBACKUP under the 2008 product family.

The backup technology has changed radically - but this is a good thing as backups will be run faster, simpler and be easier to restore/recover from.

For specific SBS2008 backup information have a look at http://sbs.seandaniel.com/2008/03/small-business-server-2008-backup-q.html

Imaging based backups are becoming more popular and present a better DR solution for recovering a system either to new hardware or a virtualised environment.

Having been a supporter of tape backups for years, my company made the jump to disk & image based backups last year and we haven't looked back - both for us and our clients.

Don't get fearful of the changes in the backup process - investigate the new technology, test it, play with it and then make a judgement. I personally think you'll be happy with the results.

re: NTBackup is gone from Windows Server 2008?

mkleef — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:48:40 GMT

Thanks Mark and Dean for the recent comments and feedback.

So far on this topic Ive seen comments that range from frustration to indifferent.

I did actually have one comment that for the first time in 4 four years of having this blog I chose not to publish. I felt it was very rude, was unconstructive and attacked me personally - I will not allow comments such as this. I am all for positive and negative critique and constructive feedback - pointing out areas that could be improved or calling out an issue. No problem with constructive criticism at all.

That said - for those of you that have expressed valid concerns I will be escalating your comments to the relevant product teams for their consideration.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!