NTBackup
Original author(s) | Arcada Software Conner Software Seagate Software |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Microsoft Veritas Software |
Initial release | July 27, 1993 |
Included with | Windows NT 3.51, NT 4, 2000, XP, and Server 2003 |
Successor | Backup and Restore and WBAdmin |
Type | Backup software |
License | Proprietary commercial software |
Website | learn |
NTBackup (also known as Windows Backup
Starting with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, NTBackup is replaced by Backup and Restore and Windows Server Backup. In addition to their corresponding GUIs, the command-line utility WBAdmin
can operate both. The new backup system provides similar functionality but uses the Virtual Hard Disk file format to back up content. Neither Backup and Restore nor Windows Server Backup support the use of tape drives.[5] To and restore NTBackup's BKF
files, Microsoft has made available the NTBackup Restore utility for Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2.[6]
Features
NTBackup supports several operating system features including backing up the computer's System State. On computers that are not
NTBackup supports
NTBackup can use removable media devices that are supported natively by the Removable Storage Manager (RSM) component of Windows. However, RSM supports only those tape devices which have RSM-aware WDM drivers.[7]
NTBackup from Windows XP and newer includes Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) support and thus can back up locked files. In the case of Windows XP Home Edition, NTBackup is not installed by default but is available on the Windows XP installation disc.[8][9] Windows XP introduced a wizard-style user interface for NTBackup in addition to the advanced UI.
An expert system administrator can use the NTBackup scripting language to create a functional backup system. Scripting enables the system administrator to automate and schedule backups of files and system state, control the RSM to follow a media rotation strategy, reprogram the RSM to work with external HDD and NAS as well as tape, send email reminders to prompt users to insert the media and compile backup reports that include logs and remaining capacity. An alternative to scripting is GUI software such as BackupAssist, which automates NTBackup and can perform automatic, scheduled backups of Windows-based servers and PCs using NTBackup.
Third-party plug-ins can be used with the deprecated Removable Storage component in Microsoft Windows to support modern storage media such as
NTBackup can be used under Windows Vista and up by copying the NTBackup files from a Windows XP machine. To use tapes or other backup locations that use the Removable Storage Manager, you will need to turn it on in the Turn Windows features on or off control panel, but in Windows 7 and up, the component was removed.[10][11]
Corrupt or damaged backup files
Due to the large size typical of today's backups, and faulty data transmission over unreliable
References
- ^ LCCN 2004118216.
- ^ "Media Sets, Media Families, and Backup Sets (SQL Server)". SQL Server Documentation. Microsoft. 2023-03-03 – via Microsoft Learn.
- ^ "Archiving to Tape: Best Practices".
- ^ Win9x & XP & NT MSBackUp File Format and Data Recovery
- ^ NTBackup replaced in Windows Server 2008
- ^ "Description of the Windows NT Backup Restore Utility for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2". Support. Microsoft. 2020-04-10.
- ^ Installed Tape Device Is Not Recognized by Removable Storage Manager
- ^ HOW TO: Install Backup from the CD-ROM in Windows XP Home Edition
- ^ How to use the Backup utility... in Windows XP...
- ^ Storage Networking Platform Features in Windows 7/Server 2008 R2 (Powerpoint) Archived 2012-02-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Running NT Backup under Windows 7".
- ^ How to recover corrupt or damaged BKF backup files
Further reading
- John Paul Mueller (2007). Windows Administration at the Command Line for Windows Vista, Windows 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000. ISBN 978-0470165799.