| NTBackup | |
|---|---|
| Original authors | Arcada Software Conner Software Seagate Software |
| Developers | Microsoft Veritas Software |
| Initial release | July 27, 1993; 32 years ago (1993-07-27) |
| Included with | Windows NT 3.51,NT 4,2000,XP, andServer 2003 |
| Successor | Backup and Restore andWBAdmin |
| Type | Backup software |
| License | Proprietarycommercial software |
| Website | learn |
NTBackup (also known asWindows Backup[1]: 20.1 andBackup Utility[1]: 20.4 ) is the first built-inbackup utility of theWindows NT family. It was introduced withWindows NT 3.51. NTBackup comprises a GUI (wizard-style) and acommand-line utility to create, customize, and manage backups. It takes advantage ofShadow Copy (to create backups) andTask Scheduler (to schedule them). NTBackup stores backups in the BKFfile format (a proprietary format at the time) on external sources, e.g.,floppy disks,hard drives,tape drives, andZip drives. When used with tape drives, NTBackup uses theMicrosoft Tape Format (MTF),[2] which is also used byBackupAssist,Backup Exec, andVeeam Backup & Replication[3] and is compatible with BKF.[4]
Starting withWindows Vista andWindows Server 2008, NTBackup is replaced byBackup and Restore andWindows Server Backup. In addition to their corresponding GUIs, the command-line utilityWBAdmin can operate both. The new backup system provides similar functionality but uses theVirtual Hard Disk file format to back up content. Neither Backup and Restore nor Windows Server Backup support the use of tape drives.[5] To and restore NTBackup'sBKF files, Microsoft has made available the NTBackup Restore utility forWindows Vista, Windows Server 2008,Windows 7, andWindows Server 2008 R2.[6]
NTBackup supports several operating system features including backing up the computer'sSystem State. On computers that are notdomain controllers, this includes theWindows Registry, boot files, files protected byWindows File Protection, Performance counter configuration information,COM+ class registration database, IIS metabase, replicated data sets,Exchange Server data, Cluster service information, and Certificate Services database. On domain controllers, NTBackup can back upActive Directory, including theSYSVOL directory share.
NTBackup supportsEncrypting File System,NTFS hard links andjunction points,alternate data streams,disk quota information, mounted drive and remote storage information. It saves NTFS permissions, audit entries and ownership settings, respects thearchive bit attribute on files and folders and can create normal, copy, differential,incremental and daily backups, backup catalogs, as well asAutomated System Recovery. It supports logging and excluding files from the backup per-user or for all users. Hardware compression is supported if the tape drive supports it. Software compression is not supported, even in Backup to files.
NTBackup can use removable media devices that are supported natively by theRemovable Storage Manager (RSM) component of Windows. However, RSM supports only those tape devices which have RSM-awareWDM drivers.[7]
NTBackup from Windows XP and newer includesVolume Shadow Copy (VSS) support and thus can back uplocked files. In the case of Windows XP Home Edition, NTBackup is not installed by default but is available on the Windows XP installation disc.[8][9] Windows XP introduced a wizard-styleuser interface for NTBackup in addition to the advanced UI.
An expert system administrator can use the NTBackup scripting language to create a functional backup system. Scripting enables the system administrator to automate and schedule backups of files andsystem state, control the RSM to follow a mediarotation strategy, reprogram the RSM to work with external HDD and NAS as well as tape, send email reminders to prompt users to insert the media and compile backup reports that include logs and remaining capacity. An alternative to scripting is GUI software such asBackupAssist, which automates NTBackup and can perform automatic, scheduled backups of Windows-based servers and PCs using NTBackup.
Third-party plug-ins can be used with the deprecatedRemovable Storage component in Microsoft Windows to support modern storage media such asexternal hard disks,flash memory,optical media such asCD,DVD andBlu-ray and network file systems exposing the pieces of media as virtual tape to NTBackup which is based onRemovable Storage.
NTBackup can be used under Windows Vista and up by copying the NTBackup files from a Windows XP machine. To use tapes or other backup locations that use the Removable Storage Manager, you will need to turn it on in theTurn Windows features on or off control panel, but in Windows 7 and up, the component was removed.[10][11]
Due to the large size typical of today's backups, and faulty data transmission over unreliableUSB orFireWire interfaces, backup files are prone to be corrupt or damaged. When trying to restore, NTBackup may display messages like "The Backup File Is Unusable", "CRC failed error" or "Unrecognized Media". Third-party, mostly commercial solutions may recover corrupt BKF files.[12]
