Small Business Server Backup and Restore
Published: July 16, 2004
Note: Portions of this transcript have been edited for clarity.
Introduction
Moderator: Justin (Microsoft)
Welcome to today's chat about “SBS 2003 - Backup and Restore.” The experts from the SBS team will discuss tips, techniques, and best practices for SBS backup and restore. We are pleased to welcome our experts for today. I will have them introduce themselves now.
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
I'm Sean, a Program Manager with Small Business Server. I was the Backup/Restore PM for the SBS 2003 release. I look forward to answering your questions today.
Host: Mir (Microsoft)
Hi! I'm Mir Rosenberg, Program Manager with Windows Small Business Server in Redmond, WA.
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
My name is Paul. I am the Program Manager for the Backup and Restore feature area. I just took over this area last week so I don't know anything.<g> Luckily I have Deon with me who has been the tester and technical guru for this area since it's incepti
Host: Mike (Microsoft)
Mike Liptack - SBS Test Lead in Redmond, WA
Host: Aaron (Microsoft)
I was a developer on the SBS Backup solution for SBS 2003.
Host: Sameer (Microsoft)
I'm Sameer, a developer with SBS working on Backup
Host: Guy (Microsoft)
Guy - Product Manager marketing
Start of Chat
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: Acronis True image server 7.0. Real life experience? Customer wants imaging done.
A: You should see the documentation at the Acronis website for information on how to use Acronis with SBS.
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: Is ntbackup with System State considered "enough" of a backup?
A: If that is all you want. You should get exchange, your sharepoint DB and your data.
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: backing up sys state and exchange where easy in sbs 2000 although the task of physically retoring it to a newley built server is more of a challenge. has this been over come with the 2003 version.
A: backing up and restoring to new hardware is only supported if your motherboard/Cpu combo are similar and the disk subsystem is also similar (meaning same brands etc)
Host: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: I want to use ExMerge to enhance my Exchange backup. I'm looking at a 90-page manual. Have you got a trimmed-down version that will help me with the basics?
A: none that I'm aware of, but the UI is fairly self-eplainatory, is that what you need?
Host: JRG (Microsoft)
Q: Procedure for "disaster recovery" backup and subsequent restore. Please discuss how to avoid LFN/SFN problem.
A: JoeM> The SFN/LFN problems in bare metal restore with SBS 2003 are not what they were in prior versions. A clean install of SBS 2003 will bare metal restore without critical issues raised.
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: How much of the OS do you need to install before performing a full restore from a full backup (including system state)?
A: You need to install all of CD1 up until the point of when you see the welcome page wizard for the SBS installation, as outlined in the restore document located at: http://download.microsoft.com/download/b/d/8/bd8e1a40-d202-429a-8eb7-26300d62bcc9/BKU_BkupRstr.doc
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: I can't seem to get ntbackup to do an unattended backup regularly. It runs the first time, and then never runs again by itself. Why?
A: did you use our configuration wizard? what error message are you getting? Did you check the backup faQ
Host: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: Mike-MS: There's a UI? I thought I had to do everything with this long, long .ini file ....
A: Yes, much later in the doc they explain it, but the UI has pretty good explainations of what is going on...
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: Is the Segate stt20000a supported by sbs2003?
A: SBS 2003 supports any hardware located on the Hardware Compatability List
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: Using SBS2k backup, is it necessary to have the open file agent for SQL and Share Point databases
A: No, it is not neccessary to have an open file version if you have your SQL databases in simple recovery mode. This allows VSS (Volume Snapshot Services) to capture the file in a read only format for the backup application to copy it successfully.
Host: Sameer (Microsoft)
Q: Can SBS backup be configured so that individual messages and individual documents from a WSS site be restored?
A: SBS Backup does not let you restore individual messages/documents. However, you can set Deleted Item retention in the Backup Config Wizard to allow restore of individual mails that were deleted for WSS, you can create a subsite which you can use to restore individual documents or items. For details, go to the Backup pane of the Server Management console, and click on the Restore SharePoint Files task.
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: Why does Veritas, and Microsoft Backup skip the shadow copy, and is there a way to fit it
A: Speaking specifically for Microsoft backup, it doesn't not skip the shadow copy. If the shadow copy fails to run, this will result in a failed backup showing in the backup log.
Host: Sameer (Microsoft)
Q: Follow-up->sameer-ms: For individual restore capability I'd need something like Veritas?
A: You'll need to check with Veritas to find out if they support that.
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: When I click "Backup" in Server Management, I get a screen saying "problem has occurred with the Manage Small Business Server Backup snap in" - seems to be only the admin account...
A: You might see a failure in the Snap-in if your host header within IIS for the default website doesn't accept all headers.
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: When I click "Backup" in Server Management, I get a screen saying "problem has occurred with the Manage Small Business Server Backup snap in" - seems to be only the admin account..
A: have you posted this to the newsgroup? We can provide better support through the newsgroup
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: Has anyone been able to do Incremental Exchange backups using ntbackup?
A: While SBS backup does not support incremental backups, you can directly use NTBackup to do this. However, the backup will only capture the exchange log files for use to replay them back into the database. You cannot do incrementals on your exchange store if your circular logging is enabled (default in SBS). You should run the SBS Backup wizard to disable circular logging before you setup your incremental backups.
Host: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: Does anyone have a recommended procedure to backup across the internet to a remote site with DSL/Cable/partial T-1?
A: none currently, we've looked at it but it's comnplicated and depends on the upload tech..i.e. BITS
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: Do SQL databases work the same as Share Point Databases
A: SharePoint can either have a SQL back-end or an WMSDE back-end. Both SQL and WMSDE work the same way
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: I can get a 3rd party software to recognize my Seagate STT20000a tape drive but not NTbackup
A: that's a USB tape drive, correct? check here http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;328742
Host: Sameer (Microsoft)
Q: is there a way to get the ability to backup network drives in sbs backup?
A: No, there is not.
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: Have you come up with a way to span tapes yet using NT Backup?
A: Spanning tapes is a known issue with SBS 2003 backup and is a core archiceture flaw that we are working on addressing in the future.
Host: Sameer (Microsoft)
Q: is there a way to get the ability to backup network drives in sbs backup?
A: [follow up]: The recommendation is to have the network share be on the SBS server and be shared out from there. You can also redirect users' My Documents folders to the server using "Configure My Documents Redirection"
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: What exactly is spanning tapes? Backing up to more than 1 tape in one operation?
A: spanning tapes is when you have a single drive tape machine, and when the tape fills up you can insert another and continue the backup. (ie, it requires manual interaction)
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: This is more of a suggestion for you programmers than a question. It sure would be nice if the backup log simply said "there is no tape in the drive" when there is no tape in the drive ....
A: This is a feature we're investigating for future releases of SBS backup
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: This is more of a suggestion for you programmers than a question. It sure would be nice if the backup log simply said "there is no tape in the drive" when there is no tape in the drive
A: good suggestion, we are working with the core ntbackup team to make the logs readable by humans. no promises but your suggestion is great
Host: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: Are tape silos supported?
A: we've not had good luck with these... sporadic failures
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: Are there backup advantages in SBS2003 vs SBS2000? Should I wait for Service Pack 1 for SBS2003?
A: SBS 2003 has a great advantage over SBS 2000 as far as backup is concerned. We've built a wizard and restore plan for you in SBS 2003. Service Pack 1 has very few changes to SBS 2003 Backup
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: should I be able to see my tape drive in My Computer?
A: No, tape drives do not show up in My Computer, only in the device manager when you right click on my computer, go to properties and choose hardware, then click on the device manager button.
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: Is there anyway to make shadowcopy point to a network drive or USB and be a reliable backup?
A: No, shadow copies can only be done to internal hard drives on the PC you are doing the Shadow Copy on. We are looking at pointing snapshots to remove storage for future versions of Windows.
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: Guys... I'm currently in the process of speccing a server. Will be running 2003 SBS Premium and will be getting a tape drive with 40/80 tapes. Any "Known" issues with SBSs backup I should be aware of as Veritas is being pushed...?
A: as long as you get a tape drive that is on the HCL you should be fine.
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
As SteveBanks_SBSMVP posts: a general document for those having backup failures: http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/6/1/561c9fd7-0e27-4525-94ec-4d2d38f61aa3/TSHT_SBS.htm#backup
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: I am new to my company is there any way to tell if my Seagate stt20000a is a USB or and IDE device without looking on the inside?
A: Chances are if it's inside your computer, its IDE/SCSI/SATA and if its on the outside, you can look to see if it connects via USB or IEEE (firewire).
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: Does XP SP2 have any affect on backups?
A: No, the backup happens on the server, and XPSP2 will not affect it.
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: An effective way of testing a restore of a database that uses MSDE? Without disrupting current database?
A: You can use a separate machine to test the restore. There is no recommended way to put MSDE side by side and test it out.
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: The drive works fine with 3rd party software but I wanted to use Ntbackup. can you think of a reason why it wouldn't work?
A: Any internal or External hard drive should function fine with SBS backup provided it shows up in the list of drives under My Computer.
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: Should we be in the habit of creating ASR disks for our servers? I tried to do it once and it failed. Never tried again because I wasn't sure why I'd need one.
A: if you are using our sbs backup wizard then you don't need ASR
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: Paulfi_MS : A:if you are using our sbs backup wizard then you don't need ASR: Why not?
A: we backup everything that ASR would include.
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: Paulfi_MS : A: if you are using our sbs backup wizard then you don't need ASR: Why not?v
A: also ASRs are not schedulablev
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: Anyone using Iomega's REV drive? I use maxtor usb2 external drives also and have had good luck.
A: Iomega ZIP drives tend not to work with SBS Backup as the Operating System recognizes them as CDROM drives, which are prevented as a backup location.
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: Can I get the full backup reports e-mailed to me - not just a message succeeded or failed?
A: you can attach logs to the monitoring report. It's not configured by default.
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: Shouldn't VSS take care of open files (especially microsoft open files)?
A: Yes, all open files should be taken care of via VSS. Moreover, if an application is VSS aware, they open file management is superior. If the application is not aware, it will backup the file as by just grabbing everything on the disk (as if the power was disconnected from the drive).
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: Where are the log files to attach to monitoring?
A: program files\support\backup logs
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: Does anyone here use imaging to backup their drives, then use something like Backup Exec to restore the current backup?
A: Imaging servers is currently not supported by Microsoft Product Support
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: Where are the log files to attach to monitoring?
A: sorry they are in program files\windows small business server\support\backup logs
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: im having trouble with the shadow copys... how should they be configured?
A: shadow copy isn't really configurable. what kind of problem are you seeing?
Host: Aaron (Microsoft)
Q: SBS 2003 configured backup doesn't seem to be able to overwrite a tape with existing data on it. What do I need to to do enable this?
A: This should be possible, if you can post specific details on the newsgroup, we might be able to diagnose the problem you are seeing specifically.
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: With backups, verifys, Windows Update, virus def update, & virus scan all happening in off-hours, is there a recommended order?
A: No recommended order, but you could backup your system so in case one of the downloads that happens causes a corruption, your backup is as up-to-date as possible.
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Q: If BUEXec uses SQL server and SQL server is not available, how can I run a restore?
A: As HandyAndy pointed out, your backup application should restore the SQL database.
Host: Paulfi (Microsoft)
Q: I'm configuring a customer with SBS2003 prem with SQL what is the best way to back up the sql database with 2003
A: put SQL into simple recovery mode
Moderator: Justin (Microsoft)
Thank you for joining us today on a Microsoft Community Chat to talk about “SBS 2003 - Backup and Restore.” If you would like further information on this topic please visit the following URL(s):
Backup and Restore Whitepaper: http://download.microsoft.com/download/b/d/8/bd8e1a40-d202-429a-8eb7-26300d62bcc9/BKU_BkupRstr.doc
Redirecting My documents files that can be not made available offline: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;252509
Shadow copies may be lost when you do a defrag of a volume http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;312067
How to use Exchange ExMerge utility http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=429163ec-dcdf-47dc-96da-1c12d67327d5&DisplayLang=en
Restoring Windows XP Clients http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx
Documentation by task http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/techinfo/productdoc/topic.mspx
Thanks all!
Host: Sean (Microsoft)
Thank you all
Host: Mike (Microsoft)
Thanks everyone!