How to backup an Active Directory Domain Controller with AVAMAR

April 7, 2009 | Filed Under Backups, My Notes | 4,967 views 

Just some notes on backing up an Active Directory domain controller or the system state of any Windows client using EMC’s AVAMAR.

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.

avamaradbackup

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.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Technorati

Related posts:

  1. AVAMAR Pre-backup Script to Mount Remote Shares on Celerra NAS
  2. Multilink PPP on a Cisco Router
  3. SMTP with Telnet

Comments

2 Responses to “How to backup an Active Directory Domain Controller with AVAMAR”

  1. Gordon on April 27th, 2009 11:25 pm

    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.

  2. Hersey on April 28th, 2009 8:49 am

    Gordon,

    Can you give us a little more info on this “x15=16″, I am not able to find any references to it.

    Thanks

Leave a Reply




Spam protection by WP Captcha-Free

Welcome

Thanks for dropping by! Feel free to join the discussion by leaving comments, and stay updated by subscribing to the RSS feed. Enjoy!
 

Not into geek stuff? Check out The VABiker.Net or SuffolkSky.com.
 

Why not Follow Me on Twitter?

 

  • Geek Reads

     
    • VMware vSphere 4.1 HA and DRS Technical Deepdive
      This technical guide covers the basic steps needed to create a VMware HA and DRS cluster, but even more important explains the concepts and mechanisms behind HA and DRS which will enable you to make well educated decisions. This book will take you in to the trenches of HA and DRS and will give you the tools to understand and implement e.g. HA admission control policies, DRS resource pools and resource allocation settings.
       
    • Mastering vSphere 4 by Scott Lowe
      Install and manage one or one thousand virtual servers in your enterprise with the latest generation of VMware virtualization software, vSphere 4, and this comprehensive guide.

    • vSphere 4.0 Quick Start Guide
      vSphere 4.0 Quick Start Guide continues from an idea started several years ago by a few engineers. The idea was simple, provide an easy to use reference guide for all level administrators, consultants and architects.