Anyone use the built in 2008R2 backup software

[edutech4schools]

Starting to move my schools over to 2008R2 and notice the MS backup system has moved along since 2003.

 

It does file backup and image backup. Are these any good as a disaster backup system or is it still a case of using 3rd party software?

[SYNACK]

Its rubbish thanks to their move into the backup software market with DPM. The Backup engine included can only have one scheduled backup job and relies rather unreliably on VSS.

[Mcshammer_dj]

You can use the command line and scripts. I have a couple of different jobs running each night which are scripted and then configured in scheduler

[Stevenw]

Iv been using it for 2 servers but have yet had a chance to test the backups

[glennda]

I'm using it for Sims. Sql dumps the files the the Software backs them up to my backup server and then i have scripts which move the files during the day to a folder with the date on it. and then that nights backup runs and overwrites the original backup.

[ricki]

HI

 

We use it but backups set off manually and then confirm its completed next morning.

 

Richard

[pete]

I'm using it for vms I shouldn't snapshot (either via hypervisor or storage snapshot) and scheduled via a script it works fine. Bare VM restores are ok too, provided you use the cli (the GUI is an abomination).

[Mcshammer_dj]

Our scripts trigger the backup via scheduled tasks and create a log file which confirms the each volume has been backedup.

 

Only wierd thing was that to get the RDX drive to work we needed to share the drive and sent to network location. This is because the system does not handle removable media very well.

[Zenden]

ive combined it with Cobian (free backup software) which basically makes timestamped copies of the backups. works great, ive got it backing up all network drives, AD and Exchange

[theriver]

Iv been using it for 2 servers but have yet had a chance to test the backups

 

Test them now, before it's too late!

[AngryTechnician]

I use it, but only for full-system backups. Works fine for me, have done a couple of restores just fine. For monitoring (assuming you want to know if a backup fails), I suggest setting up a Task Scheduler item to email you if any Failure/Critical event appears in the Backup event log (under Applications & Services\Microsoft\Windows\Backup).

[featured_spectre]

As with angry tech...only for full system back ups every Friday.

[DEvans]

Works fine with me. Backup to a bunch of NAS Drives on a daily basis.

 

Quick to backup and quick to restore from.

 

To be fair, I don't really need it for much else.

 

If we want to do a ultimate backup we use Macrium Reflect, as that has never let us down.

 

Relying soely on 2008's New Backup Role is like walking in naked to a woman's only spa. Can't predict how that might go, but you have your fingers crossed.

[edutech4schools]

like walking in naked to a woman's only spa. Can't predict how that might go, but you have your fingers crossed.

 

lol

[Stuart_C]

I use the backup to back up the systemstate etc. Then use Acronis to back up the files to my NAS's along with the rest of the data.

[edutech4schools]

Sorry to drag this thread up but is MS backup in 2008R2 ok for backing up Domain controllers?

[IanT]

I've always found MS Backup to be a it flaky, always used Backup Exec (which can be a bit flaky at times!)

[SYNACK]

Just for DC stuff its fine, just do a full shadowcopy backup so that it prunes the logs though otherwise your backups will be huge.

[jamesfed]

We use it to do a full bare metal backup (AD, DNS, DHCP, File Store, WSUS, WDS and everything else!) over iSCSI to a Qnap NAS box at our Primary School.

Whole system works a treat and the entire backup of about 300Gb of data can be done in about 2hrs.

The whole setup was very next next next done and haven't had to touch the settings once since the first time setup.

It does full weeklys then daily incrimentals and I think we have about 100 backups on the rosta at the moment - did a full test a few weeks ago and worked a treat

[lapwlover]

For database disaster recovery, I think it is better to choose one reliable solution. There are many backup software on the market, acronis, to do backup, Nova. They all can do this.

[Michael]

I asked the same question some time ago, as discussed here. 2008 R2's backup isn't great, however Backupassist provides an easy to use GUI and uses the latest Microsoft technologies how they should of done it!

 

I've used this at every site where I have installed 2008 R2 with a high success rate to a NAS. It also includes full reporting, so I know backups have completed the following morning when checking my mail.

[Sheridan]

I stopped using it after I discovered my backups (which were stored on a NAS) just wouldn't be recognised for a restore no matter what I did. After much frustration I decided it couldn't be relied upon and shelled out for Backup Exec.