AD Domain Server Backup & Restore

AD Domain Server Backup & Restore

Three AD server backup  type are

1.       Full Server backup

A full server backup is a backup of every volume on the server.

2.       critical-volumes backup includes all files on the volumes that are required to recover AD Domain services.

3.       System State data

·         Registry.

·         COM+ class registration database.

·         Boot files, including system files.

·         Certificate Services database.

·         Active Directory Domain Services.

·         SYSVOL directory.

·         Cluster Service information.

·         Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) meta-directory.

·         System files that are under Windows File Protection (WFP).

You can schedule full server backups and critical-volume backups by using Windows Server Backup or Wbadmin.exe. A full server backup captures all the volumes on the server except the volume where the backup job is stored. The recommended method for backing up a domain controller is to use the wbadmin start systemstatebackup command. You can also use the wbadmin start backup command to perform a critical-volumes backup of a domain controller. A critical-volumes backup includes all files on the volumes that are required to recover AD DS. You can use a critical-volumes backup or a system state backup to perform a nonauthoritative restore of a domain controller.

 You must restart the domain controller in Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) to perform a nonauthoritative restore. Then, use thewbadmin start systemstaterecovery command to perform the nonauthoritative restore.

Authoritative restore provides a method of recovering objects and containers that have been deleted from AD DS. Authoritative restore is a four-step process:

1. Start the domain controller in DSRM.
2. Restore the desired backup, which is typically the most recent backup.
3. Use Ntdsutil.exe to mark desired objects, containers, or partitions as authoritative.
4. Restart in normal mode to propagate the changes.