This article presents a list of common questions and answers related to Windows Server Backup feature in Windows Server 2008 and later operating systems.

Table of Contents




Where should I post my Windows Server Backup related questions?

If you need an answer that is not covered on this page or linked to by this page, you will probably get it quickest through search. However, if you cannot find the answer, you can post your questions to the Backup – Windows and Windows Server (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/windowsbackup). Please, be sure to search the forum before posting, to see if that question has already been answered in another thread. If you find that you've got a commonly asked question and answer, please, add it to this article.


Does Windows Server Backup support backing up remote servers?


Currently, Windows Server Backup can only backup the local server on which it is installed. But you can remotely connect to a server with Windows Server Backup UI and then manage Windows Server Backup remotely on that server. In this scenario, you must first install Windows Server Backup feature on the remote computer. If you are looking at backing up multiple servers, you can consider Microsoft Data Protection Manager (DPM).


 

Reasons which may cause the backup to be full instead of incremental

In Windows Server 2008 R2 , there are several reasons which may cause the backup to be full instead of incremental:

  1. Backup on the target is deleted/not present.
  2. Source volume snapshot is deleted, from which the last backup was taken.
  3. 14 incremental backups have occurred since the last full backup
  4. More than 14 days have passed since the last full backup
  1. Churn on the backup source is high (more than 50%)

Can I Boot from a VHD Created by Windows Server Backup?

Backing up of a network location (shared folders) or mapped drives is not supported in Windows Server Backup.


Compatibility Issues between Windows Server Backup and NTBackup Utility

The first change that many administrators notice is that NTBackup is no longer called NTBackup, but rather Windows Server Backup. The new name is far from being the most important change though.

From an administrator’s standpoint, the most important change that you need to be aware of is that Windows Server Backup is not compatible with backups that you have made using NTBackup. If you use NTBackup to back your data up to an external hard drive or to a network drive, then the data is encapsulated within a .BKF file. Although Microsoft has used the .BKF format for many years now, they have discontinued support for it in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

All is not lost though. If you have data that is backed up in .BKF format, you can restore that data to a Windows 2008 server. You just cannot do it natively. Instead, you will have to download Microsoft’s Windows NT Backup – Restore Utility. This utility will not allow you to create backups in .BKF format, but it will allow you to restore your data.

That is the good news. The bad news is that unlike its predecessors, Windows Server Backup does not offer support for tape drives. Therefore if you have been using NTBackup to write data to tape backup, then you are going to want to leave at least one Windows 2003 server on your network so that you can retrieve the data off of your backup tapes should the need arise.


Windows Server Backup Does not Support Backing Up Shared Folders or Mapped Network Drives

Backing up of a network location (shared folders) or mapped drives is not supported in Windows Server Backup.


Additional Windows Server Backup Resources