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Windows Server Backup Step-by-Step Guide for Windows Server 2008

Updated: May 11, 2007

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

The Windows Server Backup feature provides a basic backup and recovery solution for computers running the Windows Server® 2008 operating system. Windows Server Backup introduces new backup and recovery technology and replaces the previous Windows Backup (Ntbackup.exe) feature that was available with earlier versions of the Windows operating system.

What is Windows Server Backup?

The Windows Server Backup feature in Windows Server 2008 consists of a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in and command-line tools that provide a complete solution for your day-to-day backup and recovery needs. You can use four wizards to guide you through running backups and recoveries. You can use Windows Server Backup to back up a full server (all volumes), selected volumes, or the system state. You can recover volumes, folders, files, certain applications, and the system state. And, in case of disasters like hard disk failures, you can perform a system recovery, which will restore your complete system onto the new hard disk, by using a full server backup and the Windows Recovery Environment.

You can use Windows Server Backup to create and manage backups for the local computer or a remote computer. You can also schedule backups to run automatically and you can perform one-time backups to augment the scheduled backups.

ImportantImportant
Windows Server Backup is available in all editions of Windows Server 2008 (both 32-bit and 64-bit versions). However, the Windows Server Backup snap-in is not available for the Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008. To run backups for computers with a Server Core installation, you need to either use the command line or manage backups remotely from another computer. In addition, Windows PowerShell is not available for the Server Core installation option, so the cmdlets for Windows Server Backup are also not available on this type of installation.

What’s new in Windows Server Backup?

Windows Server Backup includes the following improvements:

  • Faster backup technology. Windows Server Backup uses Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and block-level backup technology to back up and recover your operating system, files and folders, and volumes. After the first full backup is created, you can configure Windows Server Backup to automatically run incremental backups by saving only the data that has changed since the last backup. Even if you choose to always perform full backups, your backup will take less time than it did in earlier versions of Windows.

  • Simplified restoration. You can restore items by choosing a backup and then selecting specific items from that backup to restore. You can recover specific files from a folder or all the contents of a folder. In addition, previously, you needed to manually restore from multiple backups if the item was stored on an incremental backup. But this is no longer true—you can now choose the date of the backup version for the item you want to restore.

  • Simplified recovery of your operating system. Windows Server Backup works with new Windows recovery tools to make it easier for you to recover your operating system. You can recover to the same server—or if the hardware fails, you can recover to a separate server that has similar hardware and no operating system.

  • Ability to recover applications. Windows Server Backup uses VSS functionality that is built into applications like Microsoft® SQL Server® to protect application data.

  • Improved scheduling. Windows Server Backup includes a wizard that guides you through the process of creating daily backups. System volumes are automatically included in all scheduled backups so that you are protected against disasters.

  • Offsite removal of backups for disaster protection. You can save backups to multiple disks in a rotation, which enables you to move disks from an offsite location. You can add each disk as a scheduled backup location and, if the first disk is moved offsite, Windows Server Backup will automatically save backups to the next disk in the rotation.

  • Remote administration. Windows Server Backup uses an MMC snap-in to give you a familiar and consistent experience for managing your backups. After you install the snap-in, you can access this tool through Server Manager or by adding the snap-in to a new or existing MMC console. Then, you can manage backups on other servers by clicking the Action menu in the snap-in, and then clicking Connect to Another Computer.

  • Automatic disk usage management. After you configure a disk for a scheduled backup, Windows Server Backup automatically manages the disk usage—you do not need to be concerned about running out of disk space after repeated backups. Windows Server Backup will automatically reuse the space of older backups when creating new backups. The management tool displays the backups that are available and the disk usage information. This can help you plan for provisioning additional storage to meet your recovery objectives.

  • Extensive command-line support. Windows Server Backup includes the wbadmin command and documentation, which enable you to perform all of the same tasks at the command line that you can perform by using the snap-in. For more information, see the Command Reference (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=93131). You can also automate backup activities through scripting.

    In addition, Windows Server 2008 contains a collection of Windows PowerShell™ commands (cmdlets) for Windows Server Backup that you can use to write scripts to perform backups. For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=93317.

  • Support for optical media drives and removable media. You can manually back up volumes directly to optical media drives, such as DVD drives, and also to removable media. This offers a solution if you want to create backups that can easily be moved offsite on a one-time basis. This version of Windows Server Backup retains support for manual backups to shared folders and hard disks.

Who should use Windows Server Backup?

Windows Server Backup is intended for use by everyone who needs a basic backup solution—from small business owners to IT professionals in large enterprises. However, the design makes it especially well-suited for smaller organizations or individuals who are not IT professionals.

Special considerations

You must be a member of the Administrators group or Backup Operators group to use Windows Server Backup.

In Windows Server 2008, the firewall has been enabled by default. If you are managing the backups of another computer using the Windows Server Backup snap-in, your connectivity to the remote computer may be affected and can be resolved by changes in the firewall rules. While working on the local computer, you are not affected.

Also, if you are a current user of the previous backup feature (Ntbackup.exe) that shipped in earlier versions of Windows, and plan to switch to the new Windows Server Backup, you might be affected by the following issues and changes:

  • Settings for creating backups will not be upgraded when you upgrade to Windows Server 2008. You will need to reconfigure settings.

  • You will need a separate, dedicated disk for running scheduled backups.

  • Only NTFS-formatted volumes on a locally attached disk can be backed up.

  • You can no longer back up to tape. (However, support of tape storage drivers is still included in Windows Server 2008.) Windows Server Backup supports backing up to external and internal disks, DVDs, and shared folders.

    You cannot recover backups that you created with Ntbackup.exe by using Windows Server Backup. However, a version of Ntbackup.exe is available as a download to Windows Server 2008 for users who want to recover data from backups created using Ntbackup.exe. The downloadable version of Ntbackup.exe is only for recovering backups for older versions of Windows and cannot be used to create new backups in Windows Server 2008. To download Ntbackup.exe, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=82917.

How to install Windows Server Backup

To access backup and recovery tools for Windows Server 2008, you must install the Windows Server Backup, Command-line Tools, and Windows PowerShell items that are available in the Add Features Wizard in Server Manager. This installs the following tools:

  • Windows Server Backup Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in

  • Wbadmin command-line tool

  • Windows Server Backup cmdlets (Windows PowerShell commands)

noteNote
To install Windows Server Backup features in Server Manager, you must be a member of the Backup Operators or Administrators group. You can also access Windows Server Backup from Server Manager, under the Storage node.

To install backup and recovery tools

  1. Click Start, click Server Manager, in the left pane click Features, and then in the right pane click Add Features. This opens the Add Features Wizard.

  2. In the Add Features Wizard, on the Select Features page, expand Windows Server Backup Features, and then select the check boxes for Windows Server Backup and Command-line Tools.

    You will receive a message that Windows PowerShell is also required to be installed with these features.

    noteNote
    If you just want to install the snap-in and the Wbadmin command-line tool, expand Windows Server Backup Features, and then select the Windows Server Backup check box. In this case, Windows PowerShell is not required.

  3. Click Add Required Features, and then click Next.

  4. On the Confirm Installation Selections page, review the choices that you made, and then click Install. If there is an error during the installation, it will be noted on the Installation Results page.

  5. Then, to access these backup and recovery tools, do the following:

    • To access the Windows Server Backup snap-in, click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Windows Server Backup.

    • To access and view the syntax for Wbadmin, click Start, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. At the prompt, type: wbadmin /?

    • For instructions to access and view the Help for the Windows Server Backup cmdlets, see GettingStarted.rtf at: <systemdrive>:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Documents\<language>.

Step-by-step instructions

Use the following links for key backup and recovery tasks:

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What about tape drives?      Arterton ... Chris Lively   |   Edit   |   Show History

What about tape drives?

edit: per documentation tape drives are not supported as a backup location.

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Windows Server Backup documentation is half baked.      jaxdagger ... Stanley Roark   |   Edit   |   Show History
This step by step guide just steps you through installing the feature. Then it provides links to other locations.
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Incremental...differential...does anyone know?      aaroninnes   |   Edit   |   Show History
I have looked all over microsoft's kb for this and I can't find anywhere that says if this tool supports ONLY incremental backups or if it allows differential as well. I know the windows backup utility for XP SP2 supports both, and so does the utility in win server 2k3.

A little help here?


New backup tool is less functional than the old ntbackup. Why bother      Topstar   |   Edit   |   Show History
You cannot make the same choices when you perform a single backup as you do when you create a scheduled backup (backup location, backup source). For example, you cannot exclude the system disk when performing a scheduled backup. This is available if you make a single backup, so why block this in the interface. Just plain stupid feature blocking if you ask me. ntbackup didn't have these silly restrictions, but in the end does the same task, why bother making a new, less useful tool, just for a more fancy layout.
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Not happy with Windows Server Backup?      SocratesGS ... Aboyasmin   |   Edit   |   Show History

If you are unhappy with the lack of features and abilities of Windows Server Backup then you should look into Symantec's Backup Exec. It is the most robust backup software I've seen out there. http://www.symantec.com/business/backup-exec-for-windows-servers

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Regarding BackupExec      Philip - MPECS ... Stanley Roark   |   Edit   |   Show History
Until you have to restore ...
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Backups      KerryF   |   Edit   |   Show History
Windows Server 2008 Backups is the worst thing out there. What ever happened to just being able to schedule a backup to run to another location. They are practically beggin someone to go out and buy rather than use the on-board which wasn't a bad option at one time. Not being able to schedule a backup to a UNC path or a mapped drive makes it pretty much useless.
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Backups      stormlord   |   Edit   |   Show History

Windows Server 2008 Backup, How is this an improvment when its less functional ! You go out and buy the top of the range enterprise solution and get less functionality than with 2003 R2 STD. Not Happy !!!!!!!!

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Backups      mmanthey ... Stanley Roark   |   Edit   |   Show History
Why I cannot use network drives when running scheduled backups????? :-(

Why I cannot choose files or folders?

This is not a backupsoftware..

One step forward, four steps back!


Exchange 2007 on Win2008...      bareAre ... Thomas Lee   |   Edit   |   Show History
I just don't understand why a backup tool isn't in place inside Exchange or in Windows that lets you backup Exchange2007.
Windows Server 2008 backup does not support Tape      Sina Daramola ... Thomas Lee   |   Edit   |   Show History
This is a sad news. It is better to revert back to windows 2003 R2. I will like to advise Microsoft to sample opinion of users before removing features.

This is like one step forward and 20 steps backward.

I will appreciate if the feature could be included by means of service pack


I'm beginning to see a pattern here - Less is Less      LaurenceB ... Thomas Lee   |   Edit   |   Show History
I am being forced to the conclusion that Windows 2008 server was rushed out of the door by cutting out vital components. Both Windows Server Backup and Server core are essentially non-functional at this stage. I have been forced to choose VMWare and now it looks like I will be shopping for a non-Microsoft backup solution also. Now remind me again why I need Windows Server 2008 today rather than in two years time when it will hopefully be functionally complete.
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Re LauranceB's comment      Thomas Lee   |   Edit   |   Show History

This comment seems to be confusing a server OS (Server 2008) with a hypervisor (VMWare). Secondly, the comments suggest that some customers think that a complete backup belongs inside the OS. Sadly, MS differ. Not saying you're wrong - just pointing out that this is not how MS is thinking. To some degree, Microsoft's answer to backup is System Centre Data Protection Manager (which focuses as much on backup as on restore).

But regarding backpup software, if you want a good backup solution, look outside MS. For example, Symantec's Backup Exec is such a product. The latest version can also backup VMs residing inside Hyper-V and/Or VMware ESX.

HTH

Customer to Microsoft - wake up to avoid GM's fate      LaurenceB ... Thomas Lee   |   Edit   |   Show History

The pulling of NTBackup from Windows Server 2008 appears to be an example of Microsoft knowing better than customers do about what they need. I seem to recall IBM thinking that when they introduced their ‘286 computer way back. I have never purchased a single IBM desktop or server since that date. Ford also thought that when they continued pumping out rust buckets. I drive an older Audi with no rust and a new Honda which I rust proofed. GM and Ford thought that also when they introduced planned obsolescence and continue to design their cars to last 100,000 miles. Customers voted with their dollars and now purchase Honda and Toyota vehicles which have built up a reputation for lasting twice as many miles.

NTBackup was never great but it was better than all other modestly priced 3rd party Backup systems that I have tried and in particular it was better for disaster recovery since it was readily available in emergencies and could be used without setting up a special backup/recovery server. It could also be scripted to deal with custom circumstances and it just worked.

Fortunately, I suspect that Microsoft is smarter than Thomas Lee suggests. They have already introduced a version of Windows Backup Server for SBS that fixes some of the problems and I expect that they will upgrade WBS for server 2008 at some stage. In the mean time we have the choice between clumsy and expensive 3rd party backup systems or we can fudge Windows Backup Server to do what we need. I will probably do the latter and have servers back themselves up while I script a process for collecting those backups into a tiered backup, archive and disaster recover system. I just wish that Microsoft would ask before taking these major steps backwards or at least be honest enough to inform customers of their plans.

OK - Mark Minsai's Forum has the scoop on Windows Server Backup and its limitations      LaurenceB   |   Edit   |   Show History

The URL below appears to reveal why Windows Server Backup is what it is and why it should get better in the future.

http://x220.minasi.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=3&TOPIC_ID=26028&#140653

Lack of Functionality      AK WG99 ... Stanley Roark   |   Edit   |   Show History

I find almost every aspect of the new backup service to be completely shocking in its lack of functionality. This wouldn't even be good for a home computer.

The most terrible backup utility I've ever encountered.      williamgault   |   Edit   |   Show History
So they had this extremely versatile application called ntbackup.exe which has been around since 1997, that worked wonderfully, both from a command line and from a UI and they replaced it with this steaming pile... how typical late 2000 Microsoft. They couldn't have left it in, as an option? This new Windows Server Backup has no configuratoin options and forces you to backup entire drives (not just partitions) whether you want to or not, because they might have system files on another partition. This is insanity. I'm not one to buck change when it brings improvements or better alternatives, but there's nothing better about this... and no exchange backup!? Wow. Asleep at the wheel.
Another vote to bring back tape backups      gregthecanuck ... Stanley Roark   |   Edit   |   Show History
Add my voice to those questioning the (lack of) usefulness of the current backup utility.

Cannot backup to tape? How on earth am I supposed to back up my 100GB partitions? A case of DVDs?

My NT4 machine can do this and this is what I am trying to upgrade from. Very sad.
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Calm Down Guys and Girls      I LIKE IT   |   Edit   |   Show History
OK everyone wants to reuse their tape drives. but you can get something like a lindy data dock

http://www.lindy.co.uk/shop/Search.do?query=data+dock&countryCode=UK&languageCode=en

which has removable hard drive cartridges. It's neat, its easy to use and you can get a 500Gb hdd for around £60, making the whole system cheaper than an equivelant size tape drive. Or you could embrace the fact that http://www.tapesucks.com

I know people are scared of it because it's new and the aparant lack of funtionality is getting people all hot under the collar, but if it's backed up and you don't have to worry about it and you can restore things nice and easily then what's the problem. I mean it might be a pain the 'what you call it' having to create recovery storage groups, restore mailboxes to them and exmerge folders out so the moronic users can get them back. But how much of a hero are you when you save the day.

It always get's me how when ever Microsoft release a new product, be it a backup utility or god forbid an operating system all everyone does is complain rather than actually embrasing it and using it. Why bother getting so wound up.

I mean if it causes you that many sleepless nights, use someone elses over priced backup utilities, make your client spend more money and look like an idiot when it doesn't retore properly. Mind you i guess you get to charge more for fixing the problems you created in the first place..

Oh well I thought i would have a rant about the rants, check out the above though, you might find something you like.

Cheers

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BACKUP, OK... WHAT ABOUT RECOVER?      BACKUP AND RECOVER R U JOKING   |   Edit   |   Show History
I have tried to recover for the first time a Windows 2008 Server from one server to another server, the backup was ok, but what about the recover?

The system can´t recover another system into another server, it´s a JOKE a bad one.

The manuals or papers around here r fake manuals... don´t you guys know how to write a manual? you can keep writing 1000 pages, but with no examples or images it´s useless.

If you are writing a manual for yourself it´s ok, but if you intend to write for someone else to read, you´re failing.

Most of material in this site is useless. does not teach or instruct in how to do it, it´s full o of ***.

sorry, but i can help.
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THIS PAPER SUCKS...      BACKUP AND RECOVER R U JOKING   |   Edit   |   Show History
I have tried to recover for the first time a Windows 2008 Server from one server to another server, the backup was ok, but what about the recover? YOUR PAPER SUCKS... TAKE A GOOD LOOK WHAT A PAPER LOOKS LIKE:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/212661/windows-server-2008-backup-and-restore-to-different-hardware
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NON SENSE      WPAdmin   |   Edit   |   Show History
No file backup or restore, no directory backup or restore, not able to scheduled back up to a network share (we back up everything to our central backup server)...... what a joke.... USELESS!!!!
We have clients calling us to restore individual files for them. The new Windows Server 2008 Backup doesn't allow you to do that. You can only back up and restore the entire drive.... WHAT IS MICROSOFT THINKING? AN IMPROVMENT?
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Incremental? Differential? its gonna be ok      spacey222   |   Edit   |   Show History
looks like there's alot of info about VSS and the incremental/differential process here:

http://www.wbadmin.info/articles/how-does-windows-server-2008-backup-work.html

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Bad move by MSFT      Noel Desouza ... Thomas Lee   |   Edit   |   Show History
Even though I am a loyal Microsoft fan, I have to agree here. Ntbackup was a great tool and cutting it out of win2008 is simply disgraceful on Microsoft's part.
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Windows Complete PC Restore      NevenM   |   Edit   |   Show History

I used "Windows Complete PC Restore" option and restored my server 2008 several times after some experiments with not supported software, and I was very pleased. It was very fast and easy.
Buuuuut - I added new partitions to the system and changed letters to several partitions.

I tried "Windows Complete PC Restore" and the partition letters were different from those when windows 2008 is normaly started.

Now if you try restore - you end up overwritting partitions with wrong data (data from other partition, because letters were mixed up). Of course you do not have an option "restore to partition X". Restore simply implies it has right partition letters (which it does not).
You restore now and your system is dead....

I am now trying to find a solution for this problem, but I definitely do not like what I see....

Backup Solutions      sensor-it   |   Edit   |   Show History

For those that hate this tool remember this is an Operating System. If Microsoft added a complete, fully functional backup tool that was as good or better than the standalone tools those companies would sue MS as part of the ongoing monopoly court cases.

It is a basic, get it done tool for use if you don't have or can't afford something else.

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Alternatives      dml49   |   Edit   |   Show History
Take a look at UltraBac (http://www.ultrabac.com) - best dissimilar bare-metal recovery solution my team has ever worked with. We have seen it perform miracles time after time. Worth every penny. Image and File backup solutions are available. Works with just about any backup media. Also take a look at SnapShot, a German product - http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/intro.htm. Tom Ehlert, the developer, says it works with 2008 STD but not yet with SBS 2008/Exchange. We have had great success with this product on prior MS platforms and we have successfully tested it with 2008 STD. Not a true dissimilar bare-metal recovery solution but a very impressive product. Image and File backups in one product. Does not work with tape.
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Half-baked, crappy built-in backup windows 2008      Meathead9999 ... Thomas Lee   |   Edit   |   Show History

MICROSOFT, I NEED SCHEDULED FOLDER BACKUPS TO ANYWHERE, INCLUDING A REMOTE MACHINE!!!!

I don’t work with large enterprise installs, so I stopped using tape in 1997! I have used HD for backup exclusively since then. Basically, our clients are not that sophisticated. I have always been able to get by with some form of mirrored offsite drive. The only issue was AD and Exchange.

I absolutely HATED all the other backup solutions because they were either stripped down to being stupid, or “Enterprise Class” bloatware (Veritas!) that took far too much configuration time / PC resources.

Then I found this simple add-on -- Firestreamer-RM (http://www.cristalink.com/fsrm/Default.aspx). It uses NTBackup as the backup mechanism, but provides what I believe to be critical to a good (small office) backup policy:
1.) it's ability to work with the backup solution that is already installed everywhere!
2.) Not inexpensive, but downright CHEAP!
3.) ENCRYPTION!
4.) Compression!
5.) Emailed reporting of success / failure!
6.) Ability to take offsite using removable drives.

I would combine this with a Iomega REV and BINGO! Generational backups that are able to be taken offsite. Hardware AND software all for the same price as Veritas software by itself.

Unfortunately, since NTBackup is no longer in 2008, and since 2008 doesn’t support tape drives, they are know longer going to update their slick little driver / utility. I’m NOT HAPPY.

If anybody knows of another CHEAP solution that meets the requirements above, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE post here and anywhere else you can.

Most small companies simply cannot afford 2-4k for a QUALITY backup solution, that is overly complex.

WHEW!


[tfl - 13 08 09] Hi - and thanks for your post.You should post questions like this to the Technet Forums at http://forums.microsoft.com/technet or the MS Newsgroups at

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/ . You are much more likely get a quick response using the forums than through the Community Content. For specific help about:
Exchange : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.exchange%2C &
SQL Server : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.sqlserver%2C &
Windows : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.windows%2C &
Windows Server : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.windows.server%2C &
Virtual Server : http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.virtualserver/topics?lnk
Full Public : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public%2C &

Drive Snapshot      Meathead9999   |   Edit   |   Show History
Another slick utility, but I haven't tried this on windows 2008 yet, but works well for XP / 2003

http://www.runtime.org/driveimage_faq.htm

They have many other slick utilities I suggest you check out, highly recommended.

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Can't stop weekend backup      Freqy ... Thomas Lee   |   Edit   |   Show History
Nobody is there to change the USB drive!

[tfl - 07 10 09] Hi - and thanks for your post.You should post questions like this to the Technet Forums at http://forums.microsoft.com/technet or the MS Newsgroups at http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/. You are much more likely get a quick response using the forums than through the Community Content. For specific help about:
Exchange : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.exchange%2C&
SQL Server : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.sqlserver%2C&
Windows : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.windows%2C&
Windows Server : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public.windows.server%2C&
Virtual Server : http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.virtualserver/topics?lnk
Full Public : http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=usenet%3Dmicrosoft.public%2C&

Scheduling - Can I Run Incrementals M - TH then Run a Full on Friday?      ross5   |   Edit   |   Show History
Its seems pretty simple. But how do I schedule a week with Incrementals on M - Th and a Full on Friday? Can it be done? Would appreciate any help. Thanx
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Well I'm just discovering how poor WSB is.... the day I need it...      AnthonyS   |   Edit   |   Show History
But for all those rants above....

"a version of Ntbackup.exe is available as a download for Windows Server 2008"

So not all is lost :) then you read on, they crippled it, it can't backup.... just wondering if an NT backup from W2K3 would work...

Oh dear, dear, dear, dear the more we move on with MS the further behind I seem to be, I'm now wishing for the day that my machines don't need a microsoft operating system anymore, and no, I don't think there are any viable options yet, not until we abstract all services in the OS to the cloud or web based systems, VM's are a good start :) .... Google will do it, no-one else seems to be bothered enough, microsoft are not innovating for the future but for the installed customer base. Upgrades are getting less and less and less value. Linux still sucks though.
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It's all about money      DB123   |   Edit   |   Show History

Hi Guys,

Well if you have a peek under the hood of NTBACKUP in the former version in 2K3 etc. you'll find that the software was provided by Veritas, who was then taken over by Symantec. I'm not sure what the licensing for that was like for Microsoft, but it was a fantastic product. Getting licensing with Symantec for 2008 would have hurt the bottom line of Microsoft. The backup provided with 2K8 is of course aimed at providing lesser functionality so that you will look at other products that you need to pay for. Microsoft's hope is that you'll go with their Data Protection Management software, as it is positioned to be on par with other Enterprise grade backup utils, I've looked at dealer pricing and it does undercut Backup Exec pricing.

I'm not promoting either product, but making observations, I won't suggest either is superior at this point as I have yet to try DPM, but I am looking to deploy it very soon in a dev environment.

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Symantec - Insult to injury      Brogie   |   Edit   |   Show History
Windows 2008 R2 not supported on Netbackup until Dec 2, 2009, with full support in 2010 NB7.
http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/333092.htm

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Backup VSS      Chuck-1   |   Edit   |   Show History
we should ask MS to get the money back.
WIN server 2008 = VISTA
Cannot sell Vista then make them to Win 2008 server.
very BAD product.


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Happy with new backup tooling.      devlinse   |   Edit   |   Show History
For what it's worth, I prefer the new backup method to the old NTBackup. My home array lost two disks (2/6) recently and the backups restored like a charm onto brand new, different spec hardware. Sure there are a few features that I'd like to see in the next iteration but it's delivered what was expected for me and I can't ask for more than that - and at least with this, I'm certain that my data is backed up (I'm looking at you Backup 'overly complicated' Exec)

Someone else already pointed out what I'd intended to - law suits due to perceived anti-competitive practices. There are heaps of backup apps out there and technology does change. Like anything else backup plans can't remain static for ever.

So, to partially redress the balance, a happy customer. I think it's a big improvement.
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