Top 3 Disk Imaging Software for Windows Server 2016

Why Create Disk Image for Windows Server 2016?

Disk images are backup files of partitions or volumes, or the whole data storage device like hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD) or USB flash drive, etc. Creating a disk image means to copy all the contents and structure of the source disk.

Disk images are meaningful for users, whether Windows PC or Windows Server users. They can protect PC or server data safety from system crashes, hard drive failure, or other accidents. You can restore corrupted system and data with the disk image files. In a word, disk images are important for disaster recovery. So you come to this page to find a way to image your Server 2016.

How to Create Disk Image in Windows Server 2016

There are three ways to image Windows Server 2016, namely Windows Server Backup, AOMEI Backupper Server and AOMEI Cyber Backup. I’ll show you the detailed steps of these three methods. You can first read and then choose the suitable one to follow based on your needs.

👉 Part 1. Server 2016 Create Disk Image with Windows Server Backup
👉 Part 2. Best Server Imaging Software for All Server Systems🔥
👉 Part 3. Best Centralized Windows Server Imaging Tool👍

Part 1. Server 2016 Create Disk Image with Windows Server Backup

Windows Server 2016 has a backup tool called Windows Server Backup. It allows you to do a local backup for your data. It isn’t installed by default, so you need to install it before using it.

However, using Windows Server Backup to create disk image in Windows Server 2016 will take a lot of time and occupy a lot of storage space. And it only allows you to set one scheduled backup task.

Step 1. Click Start menu, select Server Manager, and then click Windows Server Backup at the bottom of Tools.

Step 2. Choose “Backup schedule...”, or “Backup Once...” at the Actions pane according to your requirements.

Step 3. Follow the wizard to back up step by step.

Part 2. Best Server Imaging Software for All Server Systems

AOMEI Backupper Server is designed specifically for Windows Server systems. It is powerful far beyond creating a disk image.

• It enables you to create system image or disk image for Windows Server. You can also backup specific files as necessary.
• It lets you set daily/weekly/monthly scheduled backups and also supports incremental and differential backup to save both your time and storage space.
• It supports Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022 (including R2), SBS 2003, 2008, 2011 and Windows PC systems.

This disk imaging software has an easy-to-use interface. You can use it to create disk image with a few simple clicks. Download and install the tool first and follow the steps below to create disk image for Server 2016.

Step 1. When you launch the software, you can see its dark blue interface. Click Disk Backup under the Backup tab.

Step 2. Click Add Disk to choose the disk which you want to create an image for. Then, select another place as the destination path to store the disk imaging file. You can backup Windows Server 2016 to external hard drive, USB flash drive or even network share.

Step 3. Confirm the operations. If there is no problem, click Start Backup. It will start creating a disk image for you. Just wait till the progress ends.

★ Advanced backup settings you may need:

👉 Options: You can set up comment, encryption, compression, and enable email notification, etc.

👉 Schedule Backup: There are 5 options available.

• Daily/Weekly/Monthly: You can schedule automatic backup in Windows Server 2016 with daily, weekly, monthly instead of backing up manually.

• Event Triggers: You could trigger the backup event to perform the backup based on User logon, User logoff, System startup, or System shutdown.

• USB plug in: Once detecting the source or destination USB device of the task is plugged in, AOMEI Backupper will automatically back up the data on the USB or backup data to USB drive.

👉 Backup Scheme: You are able to customize the retention policy. There are 4 schemes to help you delete old backup images to free up space: By quantity, By time, By daily/weekly/monthly and By space.

Part 3. Best Centralized Windows Server Imaging Tool

The best enterprise backup software - AOMEI Cyber Backup provides a convenient and reliable solution for centralized backup management of all Windows operating systems.

• It enables you to create system/disk/partition backup for a bunch of Windows PCs and Servers, supporting Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 and Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2012 (R2)/2008 (R2).
• You are allowed to save backup images on a local disk, external hard drive, network share or NAS device, etc.
• You can schedule a backup task to run daily/weekly/monthly using the full/incremental/differential backup method.

Follow the instructions below to backup hard drives in Windows Server 2016.

Step 1. Download, install and run AOMEI Cyber Backup. The default username and password for AOMEI Cyber Backup are both "admin". Enter them and click Log in.

Step 2. Click Source Device > Windows > Add Windows Device to add the Windows Server 2016 device that you want to backup. You need to enter the IP address, username and password of it.

Step 3. Create a disk backup task.

• Click Backup Task on the left menu bar and select Backup Task > Create New Task.
• Choose Disk Backup as the Backup Type.

• Edit Task Name based on your need.
• In the Device Name field, click Select + to select the device you just added.
• In the Backup content field, click Select + to select one or multiple disks for backup.

• In the Target field, click Select + to add a local or network storage.

• Change the default schedule settings in the Schedule field.
• Click Start Backup > Add the schedule and start backup now to begin creating disk image.

Conclusion

There are 3 pieces of Windows Server imaging software to help you create disk image for Server 2016. You may pick Windows Server Backup, AOMEI Backupper Server or AOMEI Cyber Backup according to your situation. It’s worth mentioning that AOMEI Backupper provides more powerful functions like multiple scheduled backups and bootable media creation.

What's more, if you want to protect unlimited PCs and servers within your company, you may choose AOMEI Backupper Technician Plus. You can use it to offer unlimited billable technical services to clients. It also enables you to copy installation directory for portable version creation.