Windows Server Backup Notes

Windows Server Backup is a free, optional tool to create backups of volumes, both OS and Data, as separate backups. With a bit of scripting, you could create a reasonable backup solution if dedicate third party solutions are out of reach.

By default, wbadmin will create a folder called 'WindowsImageBackup' on the target path. When you can rename this folder, you will need to rename it back to its original name to perform a restore.

Installing wbadmin for Windows Server:

Open PowerShell with elevated privileges and run the following:

Import-Module Servermanager

Install-WindowsFeature Windows-Server-Backup

Here are some examples on using Windows Server Backup, wbadmin:

Creating a backup of a Hyper-V guest:

wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:E: -hyperv:"MyVM" -quiet

List backup versions:

wbadmin get versions

Get specific details of a particular backup. Read more here.

wbadmin get items -version:12/26/2018-11:19

Performing a restore of a Hyper-V guest;

wbadmin start recovery -version:12/26/2018-12:00 -itemType:hyperv -items:"MyVM" -backupTarget:E:

Example: PowerShell script to automate a VM guest backup on Hyper-V:

#Declare variables, req. Install-Module Posh-SSH and mc-wol.exe or alternative WOL utility

$NAS = "192.168.1.10"

$NASUser ="nasuser"

$NASPwd = ConvertTo-SecureString "blablablablablabla" -AsPlainText -Force

$NASCred = New-Object System.Management.Automation.PSCredential($NASUser, $NASPwd)

$NewPSDriveCred = New-Object System.Management.Automation.PsCredential("$NAS\$NASUser", $NASPwd)

$NASMAC = "11:22:33:aa:bb:cc"

$BackupPath = "X:\Backups\"

$env:Path += ";C:\Scripts\SystemBackup"

$DateFolder = "$((Get-Date).ToString('yyyyMMdd'))"

Clear-Host

Write-Host ""

Write-Host "Waking up NAS..." -foreground yellow

Write-Host ""

mc-wol.exe $NASMAC

Clear-Host

Write-Host ""

Write-Host "Waiting for NAS..." -foreground yellow

Write-Host ""

#Adjust sleep timer to suit your NAS appliance

Start-Sleep 180

$Ping = Test-Connection -ComputerName $NAS -Count 1 -Quiet

If ($Ping -eq $false)

{

Clear-Host

Write-Host ""

Write-Host "NAS is offline, exiting..." -foreground red

Write-Host ""

Exit

}

Else

{

Clear-Host

Write-Host ""

Write-Host "Commencing VM Backup" -foreground yellow

Write-Host ""

}

#Run VM backups

Remove-Item -Recurse "E:\WindowsImageBackup"

wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:E: -hyperv:"somevm" -quiet

Move-Item -Path "E:\WindowsImageBackup" -Destination "E:\$DateFolder"

New-PSDrive –Name "X" -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "\\$NAS\share" -Credential $NewPSDriveCred

#Retains 7 days of backups, purging the rest

Get-ChildItem "$BackupPath" | Where-Object {$_.CreationTime -le (Get-Date).AddDays(-7)} | Foreach-Object {Remove-Item $_.FullName -Recurse -Verbose -Force}

Copy-Item "E:\$DateFolder\" -Destination "$BackupPath" -Recurse

Remove-PSDrive -name "X" -Force

#Shutting down NAS

New-SSHSession -ComputerName $NAS -Credential $NASCred

Invoke-SSHCommand -Index 0 -Command "shutdown -p now"

Remove-SSHSession -Index 0 -Verbose

#Tidy up local backup

Move-Item -Path "E:\$DateFolder" -Destination "E:\WindowsImageBackup"

Clear-Host

Write-Host ""

Write-Host "VM Backup is Complete!" -foreground green

Write-Host ""

Exit