Disaster Recovery  «Prev  Next»

Lesson 1

Using the Backup utility

If you ever tried to use the Windows NT 4.0 Backup utility, you probably were very disappointed with its lack of functionality. In Windows NT 4.0, the Tape Drives function was the only way to back up your material, with the exception of a few instances. Backups were also virtually impossible to schedule correctly. You had your choice of using the AT command, which was unreliable at best, or using the Windows NT 4.0 Server Resource Kit utility, which added a GUI interface to the unreliable AT command. The good news is that the Windows 2000 the Backup utility is more robust and has more features than ever before. You can back up to virtually any media, whether it be a hard disk, a remote network location, a floppy disk, or a removable drive. The Task Scheduler allows you to define backup jobs that are performed reliably and accurately. The Windows 2000 Backup utility also allows you to back up the "System State," which you can use to restore a damaged Active Directory database.
Here is a brief history of Windows Server from 2003 to 2021:
  1. Windows Server 2003: Released in April 2003, Windows Server 2003 was a major update to the Windows Server platform, introducing a number of new features such as improved Active Directory, support for IPv6, and enhanced security features.
  2. Windows Server 2008: Released in February 2008, Windows Server 2008 introduced a number of new features, including Server Core, a stripped-down version of Windows Server that provided only the essential services and features, and enhanced support for virtualization.
  3. Windows Server 2008 R2: Released in October 2009, Windows Server 2008 R2 was an update to Windows Server 2008, and included new features such as support for up to 256 logical processors, improved scalability, and enhanced virtualization capabilities.
  4. Windows Server 2012: Released in September 2012, Windows Server 2012 introduced a number of new features, including support for up to 640 logical processors, improved storage and networking capabilities, and enhanced support for virtualization.
  5. Windows Server 2012 R2: Released in October 2013, Windows Server 2012 R2 was an update to Windows Server 2012, and included new features such as improved storage efficiency, enhanced support for virtualization, and improved management tools.
  6. Windows Server 2016: Released in September 2016, Windows Server 2016 introduced a number of new features, including support for Docker containers, improved security features, and enhanced support for cloud-based deployments.
  7. Windows Server 2019: Released in October 2018, Windows Server 2019 introduced a number of new features, including support for Kubernetes, improved security features such as Shielded VMs and Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection, and enhanced support for hybrid cloud deployments.
  8. Windows Server 2022: Released in August 2021, Windows Server 2022 is the latest version of Windows Server, and includes new features such as improved support for hybrid cloud deployments, enhanced security features such as Secured-core Server, and enhanced performance and scalability.

Overall, Windows Server has evolved significantly over the years, with each new release introducing new features and capabilities that have helped to drive innovation and improve the reliability, security, and performance of the platform.

By the end of this module, you will be able to:
  1. Define the function of the Backup utility
  2. Use the Backup utility to back up files and folders
  3. Use the Backup utility to back up System State data
  4. Schedule a backup using the Task Scheduler
  5. Use the Backup utility to restore files and folders
  6. Restore a damaged Active Directory database, and perform an authoritative restore
The next lesson provides an overview of the Backup utility, and demonstrates how to backup files and folders.