Create and Manage Client Computer Backups on Windows Server

Case: How to backup client computers to server?

In a client-server architecture, a client is dependent on the server for any specific service, including backup service. More specifically, the computers running client programs interacts with the computer running a server program to complete the backup process. And the individual administrator can configure the backup type, schedule, target and source data centrally.

In the following article, we will introduce how to create and manage client computer backups in Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, etc. 

How to backup client computer in domain?

To backup client computer in domain, you need to install Windows Server Essentials Dashboard first, then connect all client computers to Windows Server Essentials Domain. At last, Open Windows Server Essential Dashboard and backup the client computers. Here's an example to perform Windows Server 2012 client backup.

Part 1. Install the Windows Server Essentials Dashboard

Windows Server Essential Dashboard is not installed on Windows Server 2012 by default, so you need to manually install Windows Server Essential Experience Roles and configure Windows Server Essential. If you just add Windows Essential Experience roles, you cannot open Windows Server Essential Dashboard. 

1. Launch Server Manager and click Add Roles and Features

2. Click Next to continue.

3. Select Installation Type -> server -> Server Roles: Windows Server Essentials Experience, then add features that are required for Windows Server Essentials Experience.

4. Follow the prompt until the last step and click Install.

Part 2. Configure Windows Server Essentials

1. Launch Server Manager, then click the flag and Configure Windows Server Essentials subsequently

2. Click Next until you reach a window called Create a network administrator account. Type Administrator account name and password. At last, click Configure and wait for the final result.

Part 3. Connect computers to Windows Server Essentials Domain

When you connect a computer to a server, you need to ensure that your client computer has a valid connection to the Internet.

To connect all client computers to your server, follow the steps below.

1. Log on to the computer that you want to connect to the server.

2. Open an Internet browser, such as Internet Explorer.

3. Type https:///connect or https:///connect in the address bar and then press Enter.

4. Click Download software for Windows in the Connect your computer to the server page.

5. Run the application (known as the Connector) and follow its prompts to join the client to the domain

Part 4. Detailed steps to backup client computers in domain

1. Launch Windows Server Essentials Dashboard and click DEVICES.

2. Click Client computer backup tasks under Computers tasks tab

3. Set up your own client computer backup schedule and client computer backup retention policy. After that, click Apply

This way you can backup client computers in domain. However, the process is very complicated if you are not familiar with Windows Server Essential.

Easier way to backup all client computers from a central server

If you don't want to take the time for the complex installation and setup process as mentioned above, you can also use a much simpler centralized backup software - AOMEI Cyber Backup to perform client-server backup. 

Just a few clicks, you can create a file backup/system backup/partition backup/disk backup task for all computers within LAN, and the supported OS includes Windows Server 2016/2019/2022/11,10,8,7.

Its backup settings contains compression, encryption, notification, schedule, full/incremental/differential, retention scheme, etc. You can set it up as you need, and manage or restore the created backup task from the central machine intuitively. 

In the latest version of ACB, you will also enjoy a SQL Server Backup feature to backup and restore multiple databases on any SQL Server within LAN. 

Here's a freeware for you:

Install and set up the software properly

1. Download AOMEI Cyber Backup and the latest agent, install in on the central server as a management console. 

2. It will detect all the available client computes on the network. You just need to select the ones you want to manage, and Add Windows Agent on them remotely or manually.

Now, you can use this centralized backup solution to create client backup for Windows Server 2012, 2016, 2019, etc.

How to create and manage client computer backups

1. After getting control over the client computers, you can switch to Backup Task tab, click + Create New Task and choose the task type as you need. Here choose Disk Backup as an example.

2. You can click Device Name to detect all the controlled computers, and select the ones you want to backup.

3. You can select the areas you want to back up according to your needs, you can select more than one area at the same time.

4. Click on Target, and choose backup target to enter the network path of a share or NAS, then specify a folder in it as the target directory. 

5. After the basic setup, you can manage Schedule to customize the backup, then click Start Backup to create and execute the task.

• Schedule: Set up automatic backup Once/Daily/Weekly/Monthly, and choose to perform Full Backup/Incremental Backup/Differential Backup.

• Schedule Type: Create a rule to auto delete backup older than x days and therefore save your storage space.

6. The created backup tasks will be listed under Tasks tab, then you can directly manage it here. 

Conclusion

To create and manage client computer backups, you can use Windows Server Essential Dashboard. However, the whole process is quite complicated.

To perform client-server backup effortlessly, you can download AOMEI Cyber Backup to create and manage backups for client computers. With it, you do not need to join the domain. Just a few clicks, you can finish the backup tasks on multiple remote computers, e.g. centralized system backup.