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NTBackup

April 14, 2024

NTBackup (also known as Windows Backup[1]: 20.1  and Backup Utility[1]: 20.4 ) is the first built-in backup utility of the Windows NT family. It was introduced with Windows NT 3.51. NTBackup comprises a GUI (wizard-style) and a command-line utility to create, customize, and manage backups. It takes advantage of Shadow Copy (to create backups) and Task Scheduler (to schedule them). NTBackup stores backups in the BKF file format (a proprietary format at the time) on external sources, e.g., floppy disks, hard drives, tape drives, and Zip drives. When used with tape drives, NTBackup uses the Microsoft Tape Format (MTF),[2] which is also used by BackupAssist, Backup Exec, and Veeam Backup & Replication[3] and is compatible with BKF.[4]

NTBackup
Original author(s)Arcada Software
Conner Software
Seagate Software
Developer(s)Microsoft
Veritas Software
Initial releaseJuly 27, 1993; 30 years ago (1993-07-27)
Included withWindows NT 3.51, NT 4, 2000, XP, and Server 2003
SuccessorBackup and Restore and WBAdmin
TypeBackup software
LicenseProprietary commercial software
Websitelearn.microsoft.com/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/ntbackup

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 edit

NTBackup supports several operating system features including backing up the computer's System State. On computers that are not domain controllers, this includes the Windows Registry, boot files, files protected by Windows File Protection, Performance counter configuration information, COM+ class registration database, IIS metabase, replicated data sets, Exchange Server data, Cluster service information, and Certificate Services database. On domain controllers, NTBackup can back up Active Directory, including the SYSVOL directory share.

NTBackup supports Encrypting File System, NTFS hard links and junction points, alternate data streams, disk quota information, mounted drive and remote storage information. It saves NTFS permissions, audit entries and ownership settings, respects the archive bit attribute on files and folders and can create normal, copy, differential, incremental and daily backups, backup catalogs, as well as Automated System Recovery. It supports logging and excluding files from the backup per-user or for all users. Hardware compression is supported if the tape drive supports it. Software compression is not supported, even in Backup to files.

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 external hard disks, flash memory, optical media such as CD, DVD and Blu-ray and network file systems exposing the pieces of media as virtual tape to NTBackup which is based on Removable Storage.

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 edit

Due to the large size typical of today's backups, and faulty data transmission over unreliable USB or FireWire interfaces, backup files are prone to be corrupt or damaged. When trying to restore, NTBackup may display messages like "The Backup File Is Unusable", "CRC failed error" or "Unrecognized Media". Third-party, mostly commercial solutions may recover corrupt BKF files.[12]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Glenn, Walter; Northrup, Tony (2005). MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-270): Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional (2 ed.). Redmond, WA: Microsoft Press. ISBN 0735621527. LCCN 2004118216.
  2. ^ "Media Sets, Media Families, and Backup Sets (SQL Server)". SQL Server Documentation. Microsoft. 2023-03-03 – via Microsoft Learn.
  3. ^ "Archiving to Tape: Best Practices".
  4. ^ Win9x & XP & NT MSBackUp File Format and Data Recovery
  5. ^ NTBackup replaced in Windows Server 2008
  6. ^ "Description of the Windows NT Backup Restore Utility for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2". Support. Microsoft. 2020-04-10.
  7. ^ Installed Tape Device Is Not Recognized by Removable Storage Manager
  8. ^ HOW TO: Install Backup from the CD-ROM in Windows XP Home Edition
  9. ^ How to use the Backup utility... in Windows XP...
  10. ^ Storage Networking Platform Features in Windows 7/Server 2008 R2 (Powerpoint) 2012-02-15 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Running NT Backup under Windows 7".
  12. ^ How to recover corrupt or damaged BKF backup files

Further reading edit

External links edit

 
Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Guide to Windows Commands
  • Microsoft
    • Backup Basics from Microsoft
    • NTBackup Guide for Windows XP Professional
    • MSKB104169: Files that are automatically skipped by NTBackup
  • Microsoft Tape Format (MTF) Specification Document by Seagate

April 14, 2024
ntbackup, also, known, windows, backup, backup, utility, first, built, backup, utility, windows, family, introduced, with, windows, comprises, wizard, style, command, line, utility, create, customize, manage, backups, takes, advantage, shadow, copy, create, ba. NTBackup also known as Windows Backup 1 20 1 and Backup Utility 1 20 4 is the first built in backup utility of the Windows NT family It was introduced with Windows NT 3 51 NTBackup comprises a GUI wizard style and a command line utility to create customize and manage backups It takes advantage of Shadow Copy to create backups and Task Scheduler to schedule them NTBackup stores backups in the BKF file format a proprietary format at the time on external sources e g floppy disks hard drives tape drives and Zip drives When used with tape drives NTBackup uses the Microsoft Tape Format MTF 2 which is also used by BackupAssist Backup Exec and Veeam Backup amp Replication 3 and is compatible with BKF 4 NTBackupOriginal author s Arcada SoftwareConner SoftwareSeagate SoftwareDeveloper s MicrosoftVeritas SoftwareInitial releaseJuly 27 1993 30 years ago 1993 07 27 Included withWindows NT 3 51 NT 4 2000 XP and Server 2003SuccessorBackup and Restore and WBAdminTypeBackup softwareLicenseProprietary commercial softwareWebsitelearn wbr microsoft wbr com wbr windows server wbr administration wbr windows commands wbr ntbackupStarting 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 a href WBAdmin html title WBAdmin WBAdmin a 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 Contents 1 Features 2 Corrupt or damaged backup files 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksFeatures editNTBackup supports several operating system features including backing up the computer s System State On computers that are not domain controllers this includes the Windows Registry boot files files protected by Windows File Protection Performance counter configuration information COM class registration database IIS metabase replicated data sets Exchange Server data Cluster service information and Certificate Services database On domain controllers NTBackup can back up Active Directory including the SYSVOL directory share NTBackup supports Encrypting File System NTFS hard links and junction points alternate data streams disk quota information mounted drive and remote storage information It saves NTFS permissions audit entries and ownership settings respects the archive bit attribute on files and folders and can create normal copy differential incremental and daily backups backup catalogs as well as Automated System Recovery It supports logging and excluding files from the backup per user or for all users Hardware compression is supported if the tape drive supports it Software compression is not supported even in Backup to files 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 external hard disks flash memory optical media such as CD DVD and Blu ray and network file systems exposing the pieces of media as virtual tape to NTBackup which is based on Removable Storage 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 offcontrol panel but in Windows 7 and up the component was removed 10 11 Corrupt or damaged backup files editDue to the large size typical of today s backups and faulty data transmission over unreliable USB or FireWire interfaces backup files are prone to be corrupt or damaged When trying to restore NTBackup may display messages like The Backup File Is Unusable CRC failed error or Unrecognized Media Third party mostly commercial solutions may recover corrupt BKF files 12 References edit a b Glenn Walter Northrup Tony 2005 MCSA MCSE Self Paced Training Kit Exam 70 270 Installing Configuring and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional 2 ed Redmond WA Microsoft Press ISBN 0735621527 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 amp XP amp 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 filesFurther reading editJohn Paul Mueller 2007 Windows Administration at the Command Line for Windows Vista Windows 2003 Windows XP and Windows 2000 John Wiley amp Sons ISBN 978 0470165799 External links edit nbsp Wikibooks has a book on the topic of Guide to Windows Commands Microsoft Backup Basics from Microsoft NTBackup Guide for Windows XP Professional MSKB104169 Files that are automatically skipped by NTBackup Microsoft Tape Format MTF Specification Document by Seagate mftar a filter to convert MFT BKF files to the more common tar format Linux and Unices Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title NTBackup amp oldid 1202262414, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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