Back up an ADAM instance to a file or a tape

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003 R2

Back up an ADAM instance to a file or a tape

  • Using the graphical user interface

  • Using the command prompt

Using the graphical user interface

To back up an ADAM instance to a file or a tape

  1. Open Backup.

    The Backup or Restore Wizard starts by default, unless it is disabled. You can use this wizard, or you can go to the next step to work in Advanced Mode.

  2. In the Backup or Restore Wizard, click the link for Advanced Mode.

  3. Click the Backup tab, and then, on the Job menu, click New.

  4. To select the ADAM instance folders that you want to back up, select the check box to the left of the folders. By default, ADAM database and log files are located in %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft ADAM\instancename where instancename equals the ADAM instance name.

    Important

    If you cannot select adamntds.dit file for backup, open the registry editor and then delete "ADAM (instanceName)Write" key value from the following registry key on the ADAM server:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\CurrentControlSet\Control\BackupRestore\FilesNotToBackup

  5. In Backup destination, do one of the following:

    • If you want to back up files and folders to a file, click File.

    • If you want to back up files and folders to a tape, select a tape device.

    If no tape drive exists, the Backup destination option is unavailable, and it is automatically set to File.

  6. In Backup media or file name, do one of the following:

    • If you are backing up files and folders to a file, type a path and file name for the backup (.bkf) file, or click the Browse button to find a file.

    • If you are backing up files and folders to a tape, select the tape that you want to use.

  7. To select any other backup options that you want, such as the backup type and the backup log type, on the Tools menu, click Options.

  8. Click Start Backup, and then make any changes in the Backup Job Information dialog box.

  9. If you want to set advanced backup options, such as data verification or hardware compression, click Advanced.

  10. Click Start Backup to start the backup operation.

Warning

If you have backed up data from an NTFS volume, it is recommended that you restore the data to an NTFS volume of the same version to prevent losing data.

Important

Before backing up the ADAM folder of an instance, use Services to confirm that the instance is started. To start Services, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.

Notes

  • To start Backup, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.

  • If Backup does not start in wizard mode by default, you can start the wizard by clicking Wizard Mode on the Welcome tab.

  • Some tape drives may not support hardware compression.

  • Backup does not support the use of backup media such as CD-RW (compact disc rewritable), CD-R (compact disc recordable), and DVD-R (digital video disc recordable). To save backups to this type of media, back up to a file, and then copy that file to the CD. You can use Backup to restore from a CD.

  • Backup files usually have the file name extension .bkf. You can use any extension you like, but it is highly recommended that you use .bkf, which has file associations that ensure that the backup file is recognizable.

  • Backup operators and administrators can back up and restore encrypted files and folders without decrypting the files or folders.

Using the command prompt

To back up an ADAM instance to a file or a tape

  1. Open Command Prompt.

  2. To back up to a file or tape, type:

    ntbackup backup @bks file name /J {"backup job name"} /F {"file name"} /T {"tape name"} /P {"pool name"} /G {"guid name"} /N {"media name"} /A

Value Description

@bks file name

The name of the backup selection file (.bks file) to be used for this backup operation. The @ character must precede the name of the backup selection file. A backup selection file contains information about the files and folders that you have selected for backup. You have to create the file using the graphical user interface (GUI) version of Backup. As an alternative, you can supply the path to the drive or file to back up, for example, %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft ADAM\instance1.

/J {"backup job name"}

The job name to be used in the backup report. The job name usually describes the files and folders that you are backing up in the current backup job.

/F {"file name"}

The logical disk path and file name of the backup file. Do not use in conjunction with /P /G /T.

/T {"tape name"}

Overwrites or appends to this tape.

/P {"pool name"}

The media pool from which you want to use media. This is usually a subpool of the Backup media pool, such as 4mm DDS. Do not use in conjunction with /A /G /F /T

/G {"guid name"}

Overwrites or appends to this tape. Do not use in conjunction with /P.

/N {"media name"}

The new tape name. Do not use in conjunction with /A.

/A

Performs an append operation. Either /G or /T must be used in conjunction with this switch. Do not use in conjunction with /P.

For information about additional file and tape backup options, see the Help topic on the ntbackup command-line utility in Help and Support Center in Windows Server 2003.

Examples:

To back up the files and folders that are listed in the backup selection file C:\adaminstance.bks to file C:\backup.bkf, with the job name "Backup Job 1," type the following at the command line:

ntbackup backup @C:\\adaminstance.bks /j "Backup Job 1" /f "C:\Backup.bkf"

For a tape backup, to create a backup job named "Backup Job 1" that backs up all the files and folders that are listed in the backup selection file C:\backup.bks to a tape drive, type:

ntbackup backup @C:\\backup.bks /n "Media created 11/5/2003 at 1:25 PM" /d "Set created 11/5/2003 at 1:25 PM" /j "Backup Job 1" /p "4mm DDS"

Important

  • Before backing up the ADAM folder of an instance, use Services to confirm that the instance is started. To start Services, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.

  • If you do not specify options at the command prompt, the options default to the values that are specified in the Backup application.

  • Before you use the command line to perform backup operations, it is recommended that you use the Backup GUI to create the initial backup selection file and settings and a scheduled task. You can then use that scheduled task to view the command syntax. Copy the information from the scheduled task, make any changes that are necessary to create a script or command-line syntax, and then delete the scheduled task if it is not needed.

  • Some tape drives may not support hardware compression.

Notes

  • To view the complete syntax for this command, at a command prompt, type:

    ntbackup /?

  • If you do not specify the other Backup options, ntbackup uses the default values of the Backup program for the backup type, verification setting, logging level, hardware compression, and any other settings.

  • Backup files usually have the file name extension .bkf. You can use any extension that you want, but it is highly recommended that you use .bkf, which has file associations that ensure that the backup file is recognizable.

  • Backup operators and administrators can back up and restore encrypted files and folders without decrypting the files or folders.