Backup is a graphical tool that is used with a variety of storage media to back up and restore files on volumes using any file system supported by Windows XP Professional. Backup also simplifies archiving and allows you to schedule jobs to automate backups.
Removable Storage does tasks such as mounting and dismounting a tape or disc. It tracks and controls backup cartridges, which are typically organized into pools, on storage devices, and allows applications such as Backup to share robotic changers and cartridge libraries. After Removable Storage is started, it is transparent, so you only need access to it when you change cartridges, not when you perform a backup or restore operation.
Note | Removable Storage does not manage backing up to files on a random access medium, such as a hard disk or removable disk. |
Because of Removable Storage technology in Windows XP Professional, target media of Backup are not drive-oriented as in the past. In versions of Backup included in Windows NT 4.0, backup data was written to drives (for example, tape or disc drives).
In Windows XP Professional, Backup uses cartridges in media pools to store backed-up data. Backup still writes backup data to tapes or files on discs; but Removable Storage, which references media instead of drives, manages the media. Backup determines whether each cartridge to which it gains access is a member of an existing media pool or unallocated media. The significance of this change can be seen when a user sets up a regular backup schedule.
In the past, users scheduled Backup to run on specified days, and they could use any cartridge for that day s job. Removable Storage tracks the use of all cartridges, so it does not allow indiscriminate use of unrecognized cartridges by the applications that use Removable Storage to manage the media associated with their respective applications.
Each cartridge that Backup uses is added to Backup s application media pool, and you must identify a cartridge for each job you schedule. If you choose to back up your data to a different cartridge each night over the course of a week, you have to create seven scheduled jobs, or one job for each tape. This is because the job scheduler you can use with Backup requires that you specify a cartridge name in the scheduled job. (Each cartridge has a unique name recorded in the header of the data area.) If you place the Tuesday cartridge in the recording drive on Friday, the scheduled job is unsuccessful because the criteria required for completing the job are not met.
You can enhance the likelihood of success in the following way: Run the backup manually the first time the cartridge is used and assign the cartridge a unique name (such as Monday ). After you give each a cartridge a unique name, you can create a set of scheduled backup jobs.
This feature is very important to pay attention to using a scheduled backup to a single drive (a drive that does not include a changer). In this case Removable Storage cannot load the proper media into the drive. If the media left in the drive is not the expected media, the job will fail. Backup running in scheduled mode has no way of reporting failures to the user on an interactive basis, therefore, the backup log is the only way to determine if failures of this type have occurred. If you do not review the backup logs, failures could prevent any backup from occurring during that session.
A new feature Windows XP Professional offers is the ability to view the media pools directly from Backup. In Windows 2000, you must view media pools by opening the Removable Storage snap-in in Microsoft Management Console (MMC).
For more information about Removable Storage, see Removable Storage later in this chapter.
Note | If you use a multi-cartridge library device (such as a tape drive that contains a magazine of tapes) and set Backup to always draw cartridges from the free media pool, you only need to schedule one job. However, data on each previously used cartridge must be deleted, which places the cartridge back into the free media pool so to be used again. |
Using volume shadow copy technology in Windows XP Professional, you can reduce the number and type of files skipped during backup. If the volume shadow copy fails, Backup defaults to non-shadow copy techniques used in previous editions of Windows.
If non-shadow copy technology is used, Backup skips the following files:
Files that are open in other applications
Files that Backup skips by default
Files that Backup skips by default include temporary files, such as Pagefile.sys, Hiberfil.sys, Win386.swp, 386spart.par, Backup.log, and Restore.log. These files are neither backed up nor restored by Backup.
Backup also skips files on remote computers that are on a network share if the files are in use at the time of the backup.
Volume shadow copy technology provides an instant copy of the original volume. A shadow copy of the volume is made at the time a backup is initiated. Data is then backed up from the shadow copy instead of from the original volume. The original volume continues to change as the process continues, but the shadow copy of the volume remains constant. This is helpful if users need access to files while a backup is taking place.
Other important advantages of this technology include the following:
A computer can be backed up while applications and services are running.
Files are not skipped during the backup process.
Files open at the time of the shadow copy appear closed on the shadow copy volume.
The need for scheduling a backup window is eliminated. A backup window requires that applications be shut down to ensure a successful volume backup.
Using volume shadow copy technology, Windows XP Professional works with running applications to determine when a volume shadow copy occurs. The Volume Shadow Copy service then allows a backup application to access the volume and back it up. Applications continue running uninterrupted on the actual volumes. After the backup is completed and the data is saved on the backup media, the shadow copy is deleted.
By default, Windows XP Professional uses free disk space on any NTFS volume to store a record of the differences between the original volume and the shadow copy volume. The data on the shadow copy volume exists only while the shadow copy is being taken. The amount of disk space temporarily consumed depends on how much file data on the volume has changed during backup.
If sufficient temporary disk space is not available, Windows XP Professional cannot complete a volume shadow copy and Backup skips open files. Thus you must provide sufficient disk space to create a shadow copy of open files. Applications that can use Backup can register writer interfaces, which help coordinate the backup activity with the backup application.
Windows XP Professional uses volume shadow copy technology by default. If you only want to back up a few files or directories, you might want to disable shadow copies to avoid delays.
For more information about volume shadow copy technology, see Windows XP Professional Help and Support Center.
Note | Volume shadow copies require that you use NTFS for your file system. |
The Automated System Recovery (ASR) tool, an advanced option of the Backup Tool (NTBackup.exe), is new in Windows XP Professional. The ASR feature replaces the Emergency Repair Disk found in Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4.0. Use ASR to restore your system only if other disaster recovery tools are unavailable.
ASR allows you to restore the operating system to a previous state so that you can start Windows XP Professional when other recovery methods do not work. For example, disk damage might prevent you from starting Windows XP Professional in normal or safe mode, or prevent using Recovery Console and Last Known Good Configuration. ASR gives you another way to start your system.
ASR consists of two parts that automate the process of saving and restoring system state information: ASR backup and ASR restore. To learn more about disaster recovery tools, see Tools for Troubleshooting in this book.
The ASR wizard guides you through the process of saving ASR backups to removable media. When using the wizard to create an ASR backup, you need to decide where to store the ASR backup data and have a blank floppy disk available.
To locate the ASR wizard
In All Programs, point to Accessories, System Tools, and then click Backup.
Click Advanced Mode, and then click Automated System Recovery Wizard.
On the floppy disk, the wizard saves only hard-disk configuration information (not user data), such as disk signatures, the partition table, and volume data. If you run the ASR restore operation later, ASR Restore configures disks by using the saved data on the ASR floppy disk. The ASR backup operation scans your system and lists files to save for an ASR Restore.
The ASR restore text-mode process relies on Windows XP Professional Setup along with the information stored on an ASR floppy disk. Before you begin, gather the following items:
The most recent ASR floppy disk.
The Windows XP Professional operating system CD.
The most recent ASR backup media set, typically removable media such as data tape cartridges.
To restore your system by using ASR
Insert the Windows XP Professional operating system CD, and then restart your computer.
At the Press any key to boot CD prompt, press any key.
At the ASR prompt, press F2.
At the prompt, insert an ASR floppy disk.
At the prompt, insert ASR backup media (typically one or more pieces of removable media such as data tape cartridges).
At the prompt, provide a destination folder, such as C:\Windows or C:\Winnt.
ASR checks the backup media. To avoid application configuration issues, it is recommended that you give the destination folder the same directory name that you used when you created the ASR backup.
Restoring from network shares is not an ASR option. Therefore, you must use locally attached devices such as the following devices attached to ATA or SCSI adapters:
Tape backup drives
Removable disks, including CDs
Other hard disks
ASR is not a replacement for regular backups in which files stored on one or more volumes are saved to backup media. Because ASR saves only the files necessary to restore system state, data loss might occur. Therefore, always consider other recovery options before using ASR.
For more information about Recovery Console, see Tools for Troubleshooting, in this book.
Before using ASR, consider the following points:
ASR formats the systemdrive partition as part of the restore process. When you have dedicated space for user data files on the system partition (systemdrive), personal data or application files are not restored, and data loss is possible.
ASR restores only operating system files that it determines need repair. However, ASR might initialize operating system volumes that also contain users personal files. Therefore, there is a risk to user files stored on these volumes.
ASR is different from the System Restore feature. ASR is a recovery tool that backs up all files on the system partition and is used to bring a system back online if startup fails. System Restore saves only incremental changes, or shadow copies, and lets you start Windows XP Professional in normal or safe mode. Always try System Restore before resorting to ASR.
ASR supports FAT16 volumes up to 2.1 GB only. ASR does not support 4 GB FAT16 partitions that use a cluster size of 64 kilobytes (KB). If your system contains 4-GB FAT16 partitions, convert them from FAT16 to NTFS before using ASR. For more information about volumes and clusters, see File Systems in this book.
For more information about Automated System Recovery, see Windows XP Professional Help and Support Center.