NTBackup

[boell01]

I need to take a full backup of an application server including the systemstate with NTBackup before a software upgrade. I havn't used NTBackup too much and was wondering if there are any pitfalls or any certain way I should use it?

 

[pweegar]

Lots of them..LOL..At present I use NT Backup every day to back up 4 servers. Be aware that NTBackup does NOT backup open files!!! Having to restore files can be a real pain in the butt. The tape, with the header you THINK is there, might have a totally different name all togather and NTBackup will ask you to first load an older tape with a different name. Like I said, a real pain. And not very fast if you are writing to tape.

If you can, I'd think about using something like ArcServe from CA. Pricey, but better than NTBackup. I'll be installing ArcServe, hopefully, within a month or less, along with a new tape library unit.

 

[speaktek]

Give this a shot...at $179 for pro version...it does it all and then some (backup, incremental backup, partition mgr, defrag)...saved my @$$.

http://www.paragon.ag/hdm/

 

[MDsupport]

I too have had problems with NDBackup - slow, trouble restoring data from backups; so much trouble with restoration that I am currently making daily manual backups by copying files directly to a removable HD and have scrapped the idea of using NTBackup all together.

I am looking for a backup program for 2k Server that will make copies of data in the destination I choose - I do not want to have an image file or a single backup file (like NTBackup gives you).

Unfortunately, price is an issue - I've checked out ArcServe and it sounded great...until I saw the price. Something less that $150 is in the right price range.

Any ideas? Or am I best off making daily manual backups?

Thanks -