Microsoft KB Archive/103474

= Implementing Scheduled Backups with Windows NT Backup =

Article ID: 103474

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
 * Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server 4.0
 * Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server 4.5

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This article was previously published under Q103474



SUMMARY
The Backup utility included with Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server does not include functionality for scheduling unattended backups. However, using the Schedule service in conjunction with the command line capabilities of the Backup utility, you can set up unattended backups.

The following procedure shows how to use the Schedule service and the Backup utility to schedule an unattended backup of the entire C: drive of a computer with an installed tape device. With minor modifications, these steps could also allow for scheduling unattended backups from a computer on a network to a computer with a tape device installed or other configurations.

 Start the Schedule service on the machine with the tape device installed. This can be done by using the Services portion of Control Panel, selecting Schedule, and choosing Start. In addition, you may wish to configure the Schedule service to start every time Windows NT starts by choosing Startup and setting the Schedule Service Startup Type to Automatic. Please refer to pages 471-472 of the Windows Advanced Server System Guide to verify the correct "log on" account needed for local and/or remote backup priviliges. For Windows NT, please refer to the System Guide pages 177-178. Using any text editor, such as Notepad, create a command file (MYBACKUP.CMD) to perform the commands to backup the requested files.

The following example would back up all files on the C: drive, replacing any files currently on the tape, label the backup set "My Backup Files," backup the local registry, and log all backup information to C:\BACKUP.LOG:

ntbackup backup c: /D "My Backup Files" /B /L "c:\backup.log"

NOTE: For additional information on available NTBACKUP options, search Windows NT Help for NTBACKUP. Using the AT command, schedule the command file (MYBACKUP.CMD) to run when desired. The following AT command will schedule MYBACKUP.CMD to execute at 11:00 P.M. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday:

AT 23:00 /every:M,W,F MYBACKUP.CMD

NOTE: For additional information on available AT options, type "AT /?" at a command prompt or search the online Command Reference for AT.



MORE INFORMATION
Not all ntbackup operations are available from the command line. Use of the GUI interface is required to do restores using ntbackup. The main reason for the command line capabilities is for unattended backups of system data.

Additional query words: prodnt scheduler sbs backup schedule

Keywords: kbinfo KB103474

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