Day 16: Using Windows Server Backup

This blog post continues on the backup topic of our step-by-step series. Today we look at Windows Server Backup.

Key features of Windows Server Backup

Windows Server Backup is available for all Windows Server operating systems. You have to install the feature in Server Manager if it’s not already available.

Server backup stores an image of each server volume on a dedicated backup disk (recommended) or on a file share. One or more external backup disks are the preferred backup target. The currently connected backup disk is not visible but accessible by ransomeware. Therefore multiple, daily rotated disks are required. This provides a basic protection against ransomeware.

You can restore single files and folders or entire disks. Bare metal restore is possible via boot from the installation media.

Backups run on a fixed schedule, if necessary several times a day.

Lights-Out support

Lights-Out supports Windows Server Backup out of the box. It detects Windows Server Backup automatically. The only requirement is that you have configured a “Backup Schedule”.

Finally, Lights-Out adds some additional benefits to your Windows Server Backup:

• Especially relevant: Lights-Out can start your server from standby or hibernation to run a backup!
• You can configure and execute an action after backup. As a result, is it easy to save energy after a backup.
• Lights-Out reports backup state, result and the point in time for the next backup (see screen shot below)

Summary

Server Backup provides a working solution to protect your server, either at home or in your company. With Lights-Out as companion, you get some additional features to better save energy without the risk of data loss.

Tomorrow we will look at the traditional Windows 7 (10) Backup.

Here you will find the complete list of all days of our step-by-step series.