General Requirements for Backing Up and Recovering AD DS

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008

Prerequisites for using Windows Server Backup include the following:

  • Operating system: Windows Server 2008

  • Installation media: To access Windows RE, you must have a Windows Recovery Disc or the Windows Server 2008 DVD or CD installation media for the build that you are restoring.

  • Administrative credentials: The administrative credentials that are required for backing up and recovering Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) are as follows:

    • To perform unscheduled backups, you must be a member of the Administrators group or the Backup Operators group.

    • To schedule backups of AD DS, you must be a member of the Administrators group.

    • To restore a domain controller, you need the Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) password.

  • Backup media: Store backups on one of the following types of media:

    • A fixed or removable hard drive

    • DVDs

    • A network shared folder (Use a network shared folder for unscheduled backups only. You cannot store a system state backup on a network share.)

  • wbadmin start systemstaterecovery: Use the wbadmin start systemstaterecovery command to restore the system state for a domain controller. For more information, see Performing a Nonauthoritative Restore of AD DS.

To use the Windows Server Backup graphical user interface (GUI) for managing backup and restore operations on a server that is running a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008, you must connect remotely from a server that is running a full installation of Windows Server 2008.