Backing Up Windows Server 2008 R2 Role Services (part 1) - Backing Up the System State & Excluding Items from Backup

5/18/2011 6:25:52 PM

Many Windows Server 2008 R2 role services store configuration and status data in separate files or databases located in various locations on the boot volume. If a scheduled backup is configured to run a full backup or a Bare Metal Recovery backup, this includes all boot, system, and data volumes used by the system as well as any application data and the System State necessary for a complete PC restore. A few services also provide alternative backup and restore options, and should be leveraged to provide additional recovery options in the event of a service failure, as opposed to a full system failure.

Backing Up the System State

The System State of a Windows Server 2008 R2 system contains, at a minimum, the system Registry, boot configuration files, system files that are protected by Windows File Protection (WFP), and the COM+ class registration database. Backing up the System State creates a point-in-time backup that can be used to restore a server to a previous working state. Having a copy of the System State is essential if a server restore is necessary. A System State backup is included in a full server backup and is also included in the Bare Metal Recovery selection, but it can also be backed up separately. To create a separate System State backup using the GUI, perform the following steps:

1.	Log on to the Windows Server 2008 R2 system with an account with administrator privileges.
2.	Click Start, click All Programs, click Administrative Tools, and select Windows Server Backup.
3.	Click on Backup Once in the Actions pane.
4.	On the Backup Options page, select the Different Options option button and click Next to continue.
5.	On the Select Backup Configuration page, select the Custom option button and click Next to continue.
6.	On the Select Items for Backup page, click the Add Items button. In the Select Items window, check the box next to System State, as shown in Figure 1. Figure 1. Selecting a System State only backup.
7.	On the Select Items for Backup page, click Next to continue.
8.	Complete the backup by selecting the desired destination for the backup and complete the required steps.

Excluding Items from Backup

When full backups are not an option or if a particular folder on a volume needs to be excluded from a backup, this can be accomplished by creating a custom backup set. As an example, to back up the C volume and exclude the C:\Downloads folder, perform the following steps:

1.	Log on to the Windows Server 2008 R2 system with an account with administrator privileges.
2.	Click Start, click All Programs, click Administrative Tools, and select Windows Server Backup.
3.	Click on Backup Once in the Actions pane.
4.	On the Backup Options page, select the Different Options option button and click Next to continue.
5.	On the Select Backup Configuration page, select the Custom option button and click Next to continue.
6.	On the Select Items for Backup page, click the Add Items button. In the Select Items window, check the box next to Local Disk (C:) and click OK. This assumes that the C volume does not have a custom volume label.
7.	Back on the Select Items for Backup page, click the Advanced Settings button.
8.	On the Exclusions tab, click the Add Exclusions button. Select and expand the Local Disk (C:), select the Downloads folder, and click OK.
9.	Back in the Advanced Settings window, the excluded folder should be listed, as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2. Excluding folders from backup.
10.	Complete the backup by selecting the desired destination for the backup and complete the required steps.