A server backup software is a specialized software that allows you to locate files stored on a remote server and download them on your computer. This is typically a long and complex procedure considering there may be so many files, ranging from several gigabytes up to terabytes of size. Moreover, your files might be scattered across multiple volumes, folders and sub-folders.
A good server backup software should facilitate automatic resumption of files in the case of Internet disconnectivity, technical glitches, and other commonly faced issues. Before connecting to a server, it is important to verify that your connection is secured with encryption technology. File encryption protects your data against Man In The Middle Attacks, unauthorised monitoring of network traffic by hackers, technically called as Network Snooping. One major drawback of using this technology is that the network speed is comparatively slower than other means of file transfer. A poor speed Internet connection is not recommended.
Windows Server Backup – Best Server Backup Software
Windows Server Backup is one of the most famous server backup software from the techno-giant Microsoft.
Having obtained required administrative permissions, you can backup an entire server, a specific portion of it such as a storage volume, folder(s), or simply just a few files. The backup data size must not exceed the upper limit of 2 TB.
Full V/s Partial Server Backups
Normally, server backup software allow you to take incremental backups which are a special type of backups that take into consideration the only data that has been modified by the user. For example, the most recent backup was taken last Saturday. Assuming that today is Thursday, the only files that have been modified during the period of Saturday to Thursday would be backed up. This means that, your backup takes relatively lesser amount of storage space and finishes at a lightning speed. However, that shouldn’t be the case with the restore process. When attempting to restore your files, the software may take considerably longer amount of time because it has to consolidate all the files together in the original order/ pattern.
Backup Your FTP Server Files Using Windows Server Backup
Before proceeding any further, it is important to understand that Windows Server Backup may require administrative permissions to access and backup some of your files. Once the backup is finished, it is important to independently verify whether the backup has been successful or not. You can do so by checking the last backup state.
Please note that a consistency check is performed after backing up your files. This is to ensure that your files are in good state and not corrupted. Afterall, why would you backup your files only to find they cannot be restored as they are in an irrecoverable state? Once finished, you will be notified whether the consistency check is successful or failed.
The procedure is as follows:
- Open the Windows Server Backup tool.
- Click the Local Backup option.
- Click on the Backup Once option under Actions panel.
- Select Different Options, followed by Next.
- Use the Custom backup configuration option.
- Click on Add items and select the volumes that you want to backup. Do NOT select individual files/ folders.
- After finishing up selecting your volumes, click on OK.
- Click on the Advanced Settings, and then the Exclusions tab.
- You can add any files or select certain file types that you want the backup program to skip/ ignore. Of course this is an optional feature and you do not necessarily have to use.
- Next, click on VSS Settings tab.
- Select the option named VSS Full Backup, and then click OK.
- You will now be prompted to select a backup destination. Choose whether to store your backup on a local drive, or a remote shared folder which is a cloud-based Internet storage destination.
- After selecting your backup destination click Next.
- Finally, click on the Backup button in the confirmation dialogue.
- The backup process would start and take some time. After finishing up, verify that the backup and consistency check are successfully performed.
- Close the dialog.
