Ultimate Guide to Windows Server Backup and Recovery [Updated for 2024]

Windows Server Backup is a backup utility provided by Microsoft that is installed on servers running the Windows Server operating system for the purpose of backing up and recovering the server.

In today's article, we'll delve into the details of Windows Server Backup, including its features, limitations, how to install Windows Server Backup, and how to use it for backup and recovery operations. Keep reading to learn more!

What is Windows Server Backup (Features and Limitations)?

Losing data can be costly, which is why it's crucial to back up files – especially servers. Servers are a vital component of any organization because they house and deliver the files or information that users request.

By backing up their data, organizations ensure that they will not lose it in the event of accidents, ransomware attacks, or failures. Windows Server is Microsoft's operating system for installing on servers. Unlike consumer PCs, servers are powerful machines that run around the clock.

Windows Server Backup:

• With block-level backup, administrators can back up an entire server, specific files and folders, and selected volumes, up to 2 TB of data. • In Windows Server 2008 R2, administrators can create differential backups more quickly, restore to dissimilar hardware, and so on.

Windows Server Backup limitations:

• If your server is running a virtualized Windows Server, Windows Server Backup will not recognize the configuration and all other hardware settings.
• Backup options are limited because a full data recovery can only be achieved with Hyper-V and not with any other hypervisors or VMware.
• Another limitation is the issues that arise when storing Windows Server backups on a network location.

How to Install Windows Server Backup

Windows Server Backup is an installable feature for servers running the Windows Server operating system.

Here are the steps to install Windows Server Backup on the server:

Step 1. Open Server Manager, and then open the Add Roles and Features Wizard. Click Next.

Step 2. Under Installation Type, do not change the Role-based or Feature-based installation, and click Next.

Step 3: Click Next on both the Server and Server Roles pages.

Step 4: Under Features, select Windows Server Backup, and then click Next.

Step 5: In the Confirmation section, click Install. The installation of the Windows Server Backup feature will start. Wait for it to complete.

Step 6: When the installation is complete, click Close.

How to Use Windows Server Backup to Back Up and Restore Data

Back up and restore data from a server by using Windows Server Backup is different from backing up and restoring data on a computer.

To learn how to use Windows Server Backup to back up and restore Windows server data correctly, follow these steps:

• 1 - Backing Up Windows Server Data with Windows Server Backup
• 2 - Restoring Windows Server Data with Windows Server Backup

1 - Backing Up Windows Server Data with Windows Server Backup

Now that we have Windows Server Backup installed on the server, here's how to use Windows Server Backup to back up Windows Server data:

How to use Windows Server Backup to back up data:

Step 1: Open Server Manager, click Tools, and then select Windows Server Backup. In Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, open Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Windows Server Backup.

Click “Tools” and then choose “Windows Server Backup”

2. If the User Account Control dialog box appears and asks for your credentials to continue, type the backup operator credentials, and then click OK.

Step 3: Select “Local Backup.” From the Operations menu, choose Back Up Now.

4. In the Backup Options window, click Advanced, and then click Next.

Step 5: Under Select backup configuration, choose Full Server (recommended), and then click Next.

Step 6: In the “Choose a backup location” section, choose where you want to save your backup.

Step 7: Click on “Backup” under the “Confirm” section. When the backup is complete, click “Close.”

2 - Restoring Windows Server Data with Windows Server Backup

Here's how to restore a backup using Windows Server Backup:

Step 1: Launch the Windows Server Backup utility and choose Local Backup.

Step 2: In the Tasks pane, click Restore… to open the Restore Wizard.

Step 3: On the Start page, you will be prompted to select the location from where you want to recover the data: Local Server or Another Server.

Choose the location to restore data from

Step 4. If the backup is located on the local server, select This Server, and then choose the server. Click Next to restore from the local server. If you want to restore data from another server, select Another Server, and then click Next. In the Specify Location Type window, choose Local disk or remote shared folder, and then click Next.

Step 5: Next, under 'Select Backup Date', choose the backup you wish to restore and tap on 'Next'.

Select the date when the backup was created to restore it.

Step 6. In the Select Recovery Type section, choose Applications, then click Next.

Step 7: Under Choose an application, select Exchange.

Step 8: Click View details to see the application components. If the backup is recent, select the Do not roll forward application databases check box.

Step 9. In the Specify Recovery Options section, choose the location where you want to restore your data, and click Next.

Select the destination for recovery

Step 10. If you want to restore the data directly to its original location, select Restore to Original Location. When you choose this option, all of the backed-up databases are restored to their original locations. To select and restore individual databases and files to other locations, select Restore to Another Location.

Step 11: On the Confirmation screen, verify the restore settings, then click Restore. You can view the progress of the restore under Restore Progress.

Step 12: When the restore is complete, click Close.

Back up and restore data by using Windows Server Backup

Todo Backup Enterprise is a perfect solution to replace Windows Server Backup as a backup tool.

With Todo Backup Enterprise, you can schedule an automatic backup for specific files or the entire system. Automated file backup is also available. In case the OS is corrupted, you can use a mode called bare-metal recovery to restore your server, and all these operations can be done quickly to ensure a fast recovery. Disk cloning is also available.

1. 1 - Backup Windows Server data with tools
2. 2 - Restore Windows Server data with tools

Todo Backup Business makes backing up and restoring Windows Server very easy.

If you want to learn how to use Todo Backup Business to back up Windows Server 2016/2019/2022/11, 10, 8, or 7, please follow the step-by-step guide below.

1 - Using Tools to Backup Windows Server Data

First, a comprehensive guide on how to back up Windows Server data using tools. Follow this walkthrough for assistance.

Step1: Launch Todo Backup Enterprise and click "New Task" to set up a new backup.

Click “New Task” to create a backup.

Step 2. Select "Files" from the top options as your target. Then choose the specific files you want to back up.

Step 3: Click on "Browse" to choose the location where you want to save the backup.

Select a destination

4. Click on "Schedule: Off" to customize the backup schedule. Here you will see "Schedule", "Backup Cleanup", and "Advanced Settings". Under "Schedule", click on "New".

Then set the backup frequency according to your needs.

Alternatively, you can choose Smart Backup in your backup plan, so the program will monitor changes to your selected files and back them up automatically.

Select "Smart Backup".

5. Click the “Backup Options” button in the bottom-left corner of the window.

Here, you can change the settings to your liking, such as performance, encryption, email notifications, and others. When done, click Save to return to the main interface.

Step 6: Once you've set everything up, click "Start Backup" to begin the backup process.

Click Continue to start backing up.

2 - Recovering data from a Windows server using utilities

After successfully backing up your Windows Server data, you might need a guide on how to restore it. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use a tool to recover your Windows Server data.

Step 1. Launch the Todo Backup tool on your computer and click on the "Restore" button.

Click on "Recover"

Step 2: Click the "Browser" button on the top right.

Click "Browse" to select the backup task you want to restore.

Step 3: The Recovery Window will pop-up. Locate and select the file you wish to recover then click on OK.

Select the files to be restored

4. You can choose a new location, or keep the original one. Click the "Start" button to begin the recovery process.

Conclusions

Windows Server Backup is a free, installable feature for backing up servers running on Windows Server operating systems. It's a great tool for backing up and restoring server data, but it has its limitations. If you want to back up the configuration of your virtual machines, these limitations can be quite challenging and time-consuming.

Those who need a comprehensive solution for server backup and recovery can download and install Todo Backup Business.

Todo Backup Business surpasses Windows Server Backup in features and tools.

Frequently Asked Questions about Windows Server Backup

We also answer some questions about Windows Server Backup, as shown below.

How do I stop a running Windows Server Backup?

1. Step 1: Open the Dashboard, and then click Devices in the navigation pane.
2. Step 2: In the list of computers, click your server, and then click Stop Backup in the Tasks pane.
3. Step 3: Click Yes to confirm your decision.

2. How do I check the backup history for Windows Server?

If you're using Windows Server 2012, follow these steps to check your backup history:

1. Step 1: Log in to the Windows Server 2012 system with an Administrator account, and then open a Command Prompt window.
2. Step 2: To view the backup history, type "wbadmin.exe get versions" and press "Enter."

3. Is Windows Server Backup free?

Yes, you can use it for free to back up your data.

Where is Windows Server Backup in Windows Server 2019?

You can find it by opening Server Manager, selecting “Tools” from the upper-right corner, and choosing “Windows Server Backup.”