Knowledge Base

Back up Active Directory with Microsoft Ntbackup, then back up the server using Acronis True Image. Restore the server first with Acronis True Image, then restore Active Directory with Microsoft Ntbackup

This article applies to:

• Acronis True Image 9.1 Server for Windows
• Acronis True Image 9.1 Enterprise Server
• Acronis True Image Echo Server for Windows
• Acronis True Image Echo Enterprise Server

Introduction

The safe way to back up an Active Directory server is to first back up Active Directory using Microsoft Ntbackup (see Active Directory Backup), and then use Acronis True Image to back up the server itself.

If you need to restore the Active Directory server, you should use Acronis True Image to restore the server itself and then restore Active Directory using Microsoft Ntbackup (see Active Directory Backup).

For Windows Server 2008 see:

• Windows Server Backup Step-by-Step Guide for Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2008 Backup and Recovery Overview

Solution

Backing up

1. Use Microsoft Ntbackup to back up Active Directory. See Active Directory Backup. For information with using multiple domain controllers see Windows 2000/2003 Active Directory is out of Sync After Primary Domain Controller Rollback. In Windows Server 2008 use Windows Server Backup.
2. To make sure the backup can be restored without the Ntbackup in a single domain controller environment please follow these steps for a Windows 2000 domain controller:
   
   • Stop ntfrs and netlogon services either manually or using the Before/after data capture commands option of Acronis True Image:
     • Run the Backup wizard, select the drive you want to back up and choose the type of backup;
     • On the Choose Backup Options screen select Set the options manually;
     • On the Backup Creation Options screen, select Before/after data capture commands -> Use data capture -> Before data capture -> Edit;
     • Create a batch file with the following commands:
       net stop ntfrs
       net stop netlogon

     • Place the batch file in the system32 folder of the Windows operating system directory.
     • In the Command field type in the path to the batch file;
     • In the Working directory field type in the path to the system32 folder:

       

     • Click OK and then select After data capture -> Edit;
     • Create a batch file with the following commands:

     net start ntfrs
     net start netlogon

     • Place the batch file in the system32 folder of the Windows operating system directory.
     • In the Command field type in the path to the batch file;
     • In the Working directory field type in the path to the system32 folder.
   • Click OK, then hit Next to go through the rest of the Backup wizard.
3. If a Windows 2003 Server VSS can be used instead to make the active directory database consistent in the backup, see Domain Controller Cannot Start after Restore

Restoring

1. Restore the image of the server using Acronis True Image;
2. Restore Active Directory using Microsoft Ntbackup (see Active Directory Backup).

More information

See also Microsoft TechNet Article Active Directory Backup and Restore.