Final thoughts on Server Backup

One can understand Microsoft's desire to leverage technologies like Volume Shadowcopy Service and the Virtual Hard Drive format, and there is certainly far too much reinventing of wheels in the software industry. The new backup tool has some solid virtues: for example, it is commendably quick performing its favorite task of performing a full-volume backup in a disk-to-disk scenario. And many of us can appreciate being able to restore from a full backup by simply booting to the Windows Recovery Environment without having to install the operating system in order to get to the restore software.

However, we seem to be giving up a lot to get those benefits. The hoops you have to jump through in order to perform such a simple task as backing up the System State to the C: drive seem a little silly; the removal of file-and-folder backup capability is a big step backwards; and the threadbare GUI has the feel of a program that was rushed out the door. Finally, many system administrators are not going to trust their backups without the reassurance of a verification pass. Not everyone loved NTBACKUP, to be sure; but it was a more flexible, full-featured tool than its homegrown replacement.

While many aspects of Server 2008 reflect thoughtful design and engineering, it's hard to see even a small organization being satisfied with Windows Server Backup. Use this tool to make quick disk-to-disk system backups - while you shop for a more serious solution from independent software vendors.

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