Understanding the Confusing wbadmin Backup Option for System Drive

Understanding Confusing wbadmin Backup Option: System Drive

Windows Server Backup (wbadmin) is a versatile command-line tool that allows system administrators to create backups of their Windows Servers. However, one option that can be confusing is the inclusion or exclusion of the system drive (usually the C: drive) when creating a backup.

Why is the System Drive Important?

The system drive is where the operating system, system files, and many applications are installed. Losing data on the system drive can make a server unusable. Therefore, it is crucial to include the system drive in backups.

The Default Behavior of wbadmin Backup

When executing a backup using the wbadmin start backup command without specifying the -backupTarget option and with the -include: option followed by the system drive letter, the default behavior is to back up all volumes excluding the system drive.

A Warning Example

For instance, executing the following command:

Will produce a warning:

Note: The volume C: is not included in the backup because it is the system volume that does not support backup.

How to Include the System Drive in a Backup

To include the system drive, you need to use the -systemState parameter, like so:

Explanation of the -systemState Parameter

The -systemState parameter instructs wbadmin to back up the system state data, which includes:

• System files required for a system restore
• Windows Registry
• Component Configuration (COM+ and System Policies)
• Boot Files
• Active Directory (if applicable)
• Cluster Service Information (if applicable)

Using the -systemState parameter will automatically include the system drive and any additional volumes required for a successful system restore.

Recommended Backup Strategy

It's recommended to include the system drive and any other volumes containing critical data in your regular backup schedule. This will ensure that you can recover your server and applications to a previous state, minimizing downtime and reducing the potential for data loss.

• The system drive (typically the C: drive) should be included in backups.
• The default behavior of wbadmin backup excludes the system drive.
• To include the system drive, use the -systemState parameter (e.g., -systemState -backupTarget:DRIVENAME -quiet).
• Including the system drive as part of a backup strategy ensures that you can recover your server and applications to a previous state in case of failures or data loss.

References

• wbadmin start backup
• wbadmin start backup -systemState