Top Three Backup Tools for Windows Servers (2012, 2016, 2019)

Need of Server Backup Tools

What tool is used to backup Windows Server?

Hi all, I am looking for a new Windows Server Backup program/solution for 2 Windows Servers. I would like it to be able to backup locally (to a NAS) and to the cloud for offline storage. I do nightly backups, so it’s a pretty basic setup.

- Question from Spiceworks.com

As we can see from the case above, the user wants to find a Windows Server backup tool. Many businesses now use the Windows Server operating system, regardless of company size. The Windows Server operating system is designed to share services with various clients. In addition, the administrative panel handles the control of storage, applications, and networking.

With the rapid changes in technology, there are still many problems that follow. These problems include major problems such as network intrusion, hacker attacks, and server crashes, as well as minor problems such as accidental deletion of files. For all kinds of enterprises, these problems will bring immeasurable losses and problems, because all their customer data and other important information are stored on Windows Server. Therefore, it is of great importance to know some backup tools for Servers. In this page, I will introduce three methods to create Windows Server backups.

Backup Windows Servers Using WBAdmin

WBAadmin enables you to back up and restore your operating system, volumes, files, folders, and applications from a command prompt. Wbadmin command is available in Windows Server 2008 R2/2012(R2)/2016/2019, Windows Vista and Windows 7/8/10.

The whole WBAdmin commonds are listed below:

Create backups and restore with WBAdmin

Notes✍:
▶ If you want to configure regular scheduled backups, you must be a member of the Administrators group.
▶ Wbadmin commands may differ in different Windows versions. You can search “cmd” from the Start menu or taskbar, input “wbadmin /?” in a command window and then you can see what Wbadmin commands are supported.

✨ Steps to create a system state backup in Windows Server via WBAdmin

Step 1. Right-click on the Start icon and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.

Step 2. Type wbadmin start systemstatebackup -backuptarget: E: -quiet and press Enter to create a system image and store it on volume E.

Step 3. Type y and press Enter to confirm that you want to start the backup operation.

Step 4. Wait until you see “The backup operation successfully completed”. Type exit and press Enter to close the Command Prompt window.

Helpful Tips✍:
1. If you want to create a schedule daily backup in Windows Server 2016, use the wbadmin enable backup. 
☞ Type: wbadmin enable backup -addtarget:E: -schedule:01:30 -allcritical -systemstate -vssfull

 ✽ -allcritical: Creates a backup that includes all critical volumes.
✽ -vssfull: run a full backup using Volume Shadow Copy service (VSS).

2. See more information about creating a WBAdmin incremental backup here.

✨ Restore a system state backup in Windows Server via WBAdmin

Once your server 2016 fails to work normally due to improper system settings changes, you can perform system state recovery to restore system settings. Use the command: Wbadmin start systemstaterecovery -version: versionIdentifier -backupTarget:[backup location] -quiet.

Here is an example of performing a system state recovery from network shared folder \\192.168.0.221\Public\backup, use the command: Wbadmin start systemstaterecovery -version:11/11/2015-01:09 -backupTarget: \\192.168.0.221\Public\backup -quiet

Tip:

-quiet: run the command with no prompts to the user.

Backup Windows Servers Using Windows Server Backup (WSB)

Windows Server Backup is a free backup tool for Windows server to back up a full server (all volumes), selected volumes, the system state, or specific files or folders—and to create a backup that you can use for bare metal recovery. Meanwhile, you can use Windows Server Backup to create and manage backups for the local computer or a remote computer. It enables you to schedule backups to run automatically. How to create Server backup image of Windows Server 2016? Instructions are as follows:

Preparations: Install Windows Server Bac0kup
● Open Server Manager –> Manage –> Add Roles and Features.
● Under the Features wizard, check Windows Server Backup feature and click Install.

Step 1. Click Start, Administrative Tools, and then select Windows Server Backup. Right-click Local Backup and select Backup Once to create Server image backup for Windows Server 2016.

Step 2. Choose the backup options: Different options, and hit Next.

Step 3. Check Custom for backup configuration and click Next.

Step 4. And then click Add Items, In the next screen, check Bare metal recovery, which will automatically check the required items for bare metal recovery, and click OK.

Step 5. Specify destination location to save the Windows Server 2016 system backup, you can choose the local drives or remote shared folder.

Note：if you select back up to “Remote shared folder”, a popup window will warn you that each backup run will erase the previous backup, and only the latest backup will be available.

Step 6. Click Backup to create system image backup for Windows Server 2016.

Easiest Windows Server Backup Tool—AOMEI Backupper

The Wbadmin utility is not developed as an enterprise-level backup solution, and the operation is a bit difficult for people who do not know much about specific parameters. Meanwhile, you can only use Windows Server Backup to back up entire volumes instead of individual folders. What if you just want to back up a single folder? Is there any other Server backup solution that can make up for the shortcomings of these two tools?

Fortunately, the powerful Windows Server backup software--AOMEI Backupper Server can help you out. What are its outstanding features?

✭ It supports Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2019 (including R2) and Windows PC operating systems (Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP).
✭ It provided Backup features including system backup, file backup, disk/partition backup; Sync features including basic sync, two-way sync, mirror sync, real-time sync.
✭ It provides Clone features including system clone, disk clone, partition/volume clone.
✭ It provides you with the command line AMBackup.exe and its GUI for flexible usage.

Please download the 30-day free trial to have a try:

Next, I will show you the easiest way to create a system image for Windows Server 2012/2016/2019 as an example:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Backupper Server, choose Backup > System Backup in turn.

Step 2. Select a destination to save the Windows Server system image backup file.

Step 3. Click Schedule and Scheme according to your needs. Then, press Start Backup to create a system image backup for Windows Server.

Tips✍:
Options: you can comment on the backup task, encrypt, split and compress the server backup file, enable email or SMS notification, use VSS, etc.
Schedule: you can change backup modes with Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event triggers, USB plug in and backup types with full Backup, incremental and differential backup.
Scheme: it has the ability to automatically delete old backup images while the backups over the retain number that you specified before to avoid the backup disk full error.

Conclusion

From the three backup tools for Servers introduced above, all can help users create backups. However, the third one has great advantages. It provides you with the most concise operation, especially for those who are not familiar with specific parameters. Compared with the first two tools, AOMEI Backupper Server provides you with more options, such as backing up types.

If you want to protect unlimited PCs and servers within your company, it is highly recommended to choose AOMEI Backupper Technician Plus. It offers unlimited billable technical services to clients.