How to backup an Active Directory Domain Controller with AVAMAR
Just some notes on backing up an Active Directory domain controller or the system state of any Windows client using EMC’s AVAMAR.
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Install the AVAMAR client on the DC(s) to be backed up.
In the AVAMAR Administrator create a Dataset for the DCs (WindowsDC).
Use the Windows file system plugin and do not set any exclusions.
On the Options Tab check the Backup Windows System State check box and define a Backup label.
The AVAMAR client uses the NTBackup Utility to create a backup of the system state, it stores this backup in var in the avamar client install directory (C:\Program Files\avs\var\). If the space on that drive is limited you can set an attribute systemstatefile with a value of the full path to store the back up – D:\avs\SystemState.bkf (after you set the attribute/value make sure to hit + to add it)
Now create a Policy Group for the Dataset and set the schedule, retention, and add the clients (the AD Domain Controllers). Once you enable the group it will be run on the schedule or it can be run on demand.
When the backup runs the AVAMAR client first uses the Windows NTBackup Utility to backup the critical system state information such as the registry and the Sysvol directory.
Reference the AVAMAR System Administration Manual for more details on System State backup and restore.
Related posts:
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- SMTP with Telnet
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the “x15=16″ command will cut out windows/system32 and reduce the size of the system state, Avamar has a bug which will fail the system state with a code-3 tape block error if the system state exceeds a fraction value. This command is safe so long as you are capturing the windows/system32 folder in the file system backup.
Gordon,
Can you give us a little more info on this “x15=16″, I am not able to find any references to it.
Thanks