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Support Information - Active Directory Backup & Restore Issues
Q:
Why do I need to use an Add-On to backup Active Directory?
A: Active Directory cannot be stopped in order to perform a backup, so
Backup for Workgroups needs to interact with Volume Shadow Services (VSS) in
order to backup Active Directory information while Active Directory is running.
The regular Backup Client software cannot do this alone, you need to activate
either the Open File Add-On or Active Directory Add-On in order to backup your
Active Directory information.
Q:
Which Add-On do I need to use to backup my Active Directory information?
- Use the Open File Add-On when you are backing up Active Directory on
Windows 2008 Servers and Windows 2003 Servers (SBS, Standard or Enterprise, etc.)
The Open File Add-On includes support for backing up Active Directory, along with any other open databases or files on this
server. It uses the Volume Shadow Services (VSS) feature in 2008/2003 to perform the backup of the always-in-use Active
Directory database.
- Use the Active Directory Add-On when you are backing up Active Directory on Windows 2000 Servers
The specific Active Directory Add-On allows Backup for Workgroups to interact directly with the Active Directory API, so it
will backup the Active Directory database even while it is in use. Great for older Windows 2000 servers that do not have VSS support. Applicable for any Windows 2000 Server or even a Windows 2008/2003 Server that is only acting as a
Domain Controller.
Q:
How do I activate the Open File Add-On or the Active Directory Add-On?
You activate the Add-Ons from the Data Repository Manager.
Go to the Data Repository Manager and select the Clients panel. Select the
name of the Client computer for which you would like to use the Active Directory
or Open File Add-on
and then press the Modify button. Now you can check/tick the appropriate
Add-On options and be sure to save your changes.
Q: How do I
restore Active Directory?
The process of restoring Active Directory is dependent upon whether Active
Directory is still running or not. You do not need to know whether Active
Directory is running (or not) to complete a restoration. Backup for Workgroups
will lead you through the restoration process that is appropriate for your
environment.
- Restoring Active Directory When Active Directory is NOT Running - If you
need to perform a bare metal restore, you will be restoring Active Directory
to a computer that is not running Active Directory. During the restoration
process of the System Registry, Backup for Workgroups automatically restores
the appropriate Active Directory information. You do not need to complete any
additional steps. Once the computer running Active Directory is restored, your
Active Directory computer is back to normal operation.
- Restoring Active Directory When Active Directory IS Running - Because
Windows will not allow for the restoration of Active Directory while it is
running, the process of restoring Active Directory in this case is divided
into two (2) parts. The Backup Client completes the first part for you when
you perform a restoring on a computer that still has Active Directory running.
The second part
requires user intervention and cannot be automated. Here's what you need
to do:
- Reboot your computer after this restoration process completes.
- When Windows is just starting the boot process and shows you a screen
stating "Starting Windows," press the F8 key immediately. You will need to
press F8 VERY QUICKLY as Windows starts the boot process.
- Select the option labeled Directory Services Restore Mode. Press Enter
to continue the boot process. Your computer is booted into a special form or
state of Safe Mode.
- After the computer has booted, navigate to the folder where the Backup
Client software is installed. Run the program named Restore Active
Directory.
- After running the Restore Active Directory program, reboot your
computer.
Be sure to check out more of our FAQs
if you still have questions.
If you are looking for detailed steps on how to do things with Backup for
Workgroups, take a look at our Support
Center for detailed How-To instructions.
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