Server Backup Software - Recommendations?

_Kaiser_

I've a few servers that I intend to backup to (external) disk but my preferrred choice - Backup Exec - is rather expensive so I thought I'd ask here if there's any cheaper/free alternatives that people are using.

Must support Server 2003 (and 2008 if possible)
Must allow unattended scheduled (daily) backups

Thanks in advance for any help

Overheal

Honestly I'd PM cult: he's responsible for maintaining boards and updating that every night..he'd be the man to ask.

Spunj

I think I have recomended this before, but it works for me once it's set up and it is free. Check it out anyways, theres plenty of options to tweak...
http://www.2brightsparks.com/assets/software/SyncBack_Setup.zip

The main site is http://www.2brightsparks.com in case you want to browse before a direct download.

Capt'n Midnight

ntbackup is free and part of the OS
it does an uncompressed dump to a file and can be scheduled
you can compress the file by enabling NTFS compression

IMHO ntbackup is more reliable than backup exec since there less options to play with

cance

use ntbackup mate,

its free, and with the right amount of scripting you can:

• push the backup script to the server.
• add it to the scheduled tasks on the server you wish to backup.
• run your backup of your system state and hard drive content to your external drive.
• or backup to local disk then copy the backup files off to the backup drive.
• get email reports of the backups by emailing the backup log each day (good .for auditing etc)

if you need a hand, feel free to pm me, i have a few scripts that would sort ya out.

tech

Hi

Can you post some of your scripts, here I was never a fan of NT backup but loads of people love it as they say once the script is right

tks

cance

no problem chief, all my scripts are on my windows machine, ill post em on monday.

It'd be a little helpful if you could let me know which parts you are interested in and i could answer you quicker.

A

cance

sorry for the delay ladies/gents!

Nt backup to file server with report:

logdest = destination network folder (or local if you wish) for the log files
backdes = destination network folder (or local if you wish) for the backup files.

set logfiledir="%userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\windows nt\NTBackup\data"
set logdest=[B]\\server\share\backups[/B]
set backdes=[B]\\server\share\backups[/B]
Rem Log file Maintenance.
del /q %logfiledir%\*.log

Rem --- System state backup ---

ntbackup backup systemstate /f %backdes%\%computername%-[B][B]systemstate[/B][/B].bkf /j "systemstate" /l:s


FOR /F "usebackq tokens=1" %%n IN (`dir %logfiledir%\ /b`) DO @FOR /F "usebackq tokens=2,3,4 delims=/ " %%d IN (`date /t`) DO @FOR /F "usebackq tokens=1,2 delims=: " %%t IN (`time /t`) DO @ren %logfiledir%\%%n %computername%-"systemstate"-%%d%%e%%f.log

move /y %logfiledir%\*.log %logdest%

Rem --- hard drive backup ---
Rem --- Copy and paste from here downwards for multiple drives---
ntbackup backup [B]c:\[/B] /f %backdes%\%computername%-[B]cdrive.bkf[/B] /j "[B]C Drive[/B]" /l:s

FOR /F "usebackq tokens=1" %%n IN (`dir %logfiledir%\ /b`) DO @FOR /F "usebackq tokens=2,3,4 delims=/ " %%d IN (`date /t`) DO @FOR /F "usebackq tokens=1,2 delims=: " %%t IN (`time /t`) DO @ren %logfiledir%\%%n %computername%-"[B]Cdrive[/B]"-%%d%%e%%f.log

move /y %logfiledir%\*.log %logdest%
Rem --- end copy ---

this script will:

• delete old backup logs.
• perform a system state backup directly to the network drive.
• export the log file, rename it and place it in the directory specified.
• perform a c: drive backup directly to the network drive.
• rename the logfile and place it in the directory specified.

once you have all the backups on one network share you could write them all off in one swoop to an external drive. I wouldnt advise you write the backups directly to the external hard drive.

if you want a hand with adding this script to the schedueled tasks, heres the syntax i use:

schtasks /create /s \\%computername% /u domain\username /p password /tn Server-Backup /tr "c:\backup.bat" /sc daily /st 19:00:00

so once you identify what drives you need for each server.

copy the backup file to c:\ or a network drive, whatever floats your boat.
use psexec to connect to your servers and run the schtasks command. (i.e. psexec @servers.txt cmd /c "schtasks /create /s \\%computername% /u domain\username /p password /tn Server-Backup /tr "c:\backup.bat" /sc daily /st 19:00:00"
job done

give me a shout if you need help tailoring the above to work in your environment.

Capt'n Midnight

use blat to send emails / logs when finished