Drive Imaging Backup using
Microsoft Windows Server Backup

BackupAssist enables you to schedule and manage the block-level backup features available via the Microsoft Windows Server Backup utility in: Microsoft Windows Server 2008 family; Windows Small Business Server 2011/2008 family; Exchange Server 2010/2007; SQL Server 2008/2005; plus Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate editions; and Windows Vista Business and Ultimate editions.

A block-level image backup provides excellent data protection for your files and applications, as well as disaster recovery capabilities. The hardware independent restore (HIR) features allow you to completely recover a server to dissimilar hardware, at fast hard-drive speeds (e.g. 70–90 Gig/hr).

Combined with BackupAssist's easy to configure user interface, extended hardware support, powerful email reporting, and simple restore capabilities, you've got a complete drive imaging solution at the fraction of the price of the competitors, and with none of the hassles of manual scripting or scheduling wbadmin.exe.

BackupAssist delivers reliable Microsoft Windows Server backup and recovery designed for your growing small or medium business. With this Windows Server backup software, you can reduce business downtime, and ensure critical information on virtual or physical systems is always protected and restored in seconds.

Benefit from Microsoft's new backup engine

Select volumes to backup

BackupAssist builds upon Microsoft's block level backup engine, meaning that you can benefit from the features already present in the operating system:

• Fast block-based imaging backups
• Automatic space management on backup device (oldest backups are deleted when space fills up)
• Restore using the Windows Recovery Environment — use the Windows install DVD or burn your own recovery disc

BackupAssist also adds significant functionality and overcomes numerous limitations as described below.

VSS application backup and restore

VSS application selection

The Imaging engine includes fully integrated support for VSS application backup and restore. Microsoft applications such as Exchange Server, SQL Server, SharePoint and Hyper-V are all fully supported, as well as any other VSS-aware application that uses standard VSS restore methods.

Simply choose the VSS application that you want to back up from the list of detected applications. If you are running Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, you can even drill down and choose individual components (databases, storage groups, etc) to backup. Application restore is just as easy using the BackupAssist Restore Console: browse the contents of a backup and select the application(s) you want to restore.

Local System State backup on Windows Server 2008 R2

On the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and earlier operating systems, you could only backup the System State by performing a Full System Image. Now on Windows Server 2008 R2 you have the option of scheduling System State-only backups, which have a much smaller footprint than a Full Image backup. You can use your System State backup to restore your system settings in the event of system failure or corruption.

Live monitoring of backup

Detailed reporting

Full reporting and monitoring

BackupAssist's reporting gives you confidence that your backups are working and notifies you whenever problems occur. This means that you'll never be left with silent failures. Reports can be emailed to administrator(s), showing:

• Vital statistics — backup size, time taken
• Overall status — success, errors or warnings
• Detailed log
• Media usage graph — shows how full the backup device is
• Past backup versions — lists the available past versions of backups on the device

Extended hardware support

Wide range of supported devices

Whereas the in-built wizards in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 only support USB HDD, BackupAssist supports USB HDD as well as NAS, Local disk, eSata disk, rdx drives (such as the RD1000 and QuikStor) and Iomega REV.

In addition, BackupAssist allows you to see the contents of the backup device (it keeps the drive letter), and it manages things like "Safely remove hardware" and "Add new hardware" to both eject and inject devices to make sure that the backup runs. Additionally, it will also cater for situations where a USB drive's drive letter changes.

Media rotation and device checking

Built-in media rotation schemes

Media checking

The concept of media rotation involves having multiple backup devices in a "pool", and swapping these devices onsite and offsite. The purpose is to have a variety of restore points, and to have them stored in different physical locations. Unfortunately, the Microsoft wizards provide you with absolutely no help in managing this process.

In contrast, BackupAssist contains numerous important features that help maximize your backup's effectiveness by minimizing human error and enhances the reliability and effectiveness of the entire system.

• Built-in media rotation strategies.
• Best practices at the click of a button.
• Specific instructions sent to the backup operator.
• Checking is done every night to make sure that the backup devices are rotated according to plan.
• If the wrong device is connected, BackupAssist can be configured to either backup anyway and display a warning in the backup report, or to abort the backup altogether.

File based backup

If you are running Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, you can select individual files and folders stored locally for backup. If you are running Windows Server 2008 you can only select entire local volumes for backup.

However, BackupAssist provides a solution for Windows Server 2008 and earlier operating systems — within the product (and at no extra cost) is our File Replication Engine — a separate backup method that allows you to copy files, complete with VSS support and full NTFS security / extended data stream support, from any location to any other location.

• File based backup capabilities
• Simple approach based on exact, VSS aware file copying — includes open files and VSS applications (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint)
• Backup local and remote (network) files

Restoring your Windows Server 2008 data

Restoring a Windows 2008 Server

There are two restore methods for a Microsoft Windows 2008 system.

1. Files, applications and volumes: use either the BackupAssist Restore Console or the Windows Server Backup Recovery Wizard to mount an image and restore individual files, applications or entire volumes.
2. Bare metal restore: use the Windows DVD (or a recovery CD) to perform a restore from your image. This is an automated process — simply configure a few simple options and Windows will automatically rebuild the system.

Resources

• One page fact sheet
• Powerpoint presentation
  
  How it works, our tests with hardware independent restores, important technology limitations
• Feature comparison
  
  BackupAssist versus in-built Microsoft wizards

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