Active Directory / Domain Controller FAQs
On this page, you can learn more about Active Directory and how you can use Backup for Workgroups to backup this
important company data.
Q: What is Active Directory?
Active Directory is included with Windows Server 2008, Small Business Server
2008, Windows Server 2003, Small Business Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 and Small Business Server 2000. It provides you with a convenient way to centrally
manage computers, users, and peripherals on your network.
Active Directory is an important database that should be included in the overall backup of any Windows Server. When it comes to backing up Active Directory, Backup for Workgroups has (2) different Add-On products to use, the one that is
right for you depends upon the version of Windows that you are running.
Both the Open File Add-On and the Active Directory Add-On products are
included in the Backup for Workgroups 30-day trial download. All you need
to do is figure out which one is right for the particular version of Windows
that you are running. For more information about figuring out which add-on
is right for you, please read
Do I need to
use an Add-On to backup Active Directory.
Q: What is a Domain Controller?
A Domain Controller is a Windows Server running Active Directory.
Q: Why do I need to backup Active Directory?
- Because disaster recovery of your Domain Controller cannot complete without the Active Directory
information being restored.
When you need to perform a disaster recovery of a Domain Controller, you need to have the Active Directory database
backed up in order to restore the computer. Without the Active Directory database, Windows will not allow any user to
login to a restored Domain Controller.
- To maintain the unique security ID numbers assigned by Active Directory to every user and device it controls.
Security ID numbers are used by applications such as Microsoft Exchange Server to validate user existence and rights. These security IDs are unique in that if you delete a user account and later recreate this user, Active Directory will assign a
new, different security ID number. As a result, any application that holds references to older security ID numbers will be
denied access to the recreated user because their security ID has changed.
- Exchange Server relies on Active Directory to distribute e-mail to users.
If Exchange Server cannot access the Active Directory user account, all your users previous e-mail data is inaccessible.
This means that any Exchange Server restoration must have the current Active Directory in order to maintain the e-mail settings
for each user.
- Because it is easy to add to a Client's backup set!
If you have any computers running Active Directory, go to the Data Repository computer and check the option for
"Active Directory" under the Client Account and it will be available as an item to include in a Backup Set.
It is that easy.
Q: Do I need to use an Add-On to backup Active Directory?
- Use the Open File Add-On when you are backing up Active Directory on
Windows 2008 Servers and Windows 2003 Servers (SBS, Standard or Enterprise, etc.)
The Open File Add-On includes support for backing up Active Directory, along with any other open databases or files on this
server. It uses the Volume Shadow Services (VSS) feature in 2008/2003 to perform the backup of the always-in-use Active
Directory database.
- Use the Active Directory Add-On when you are backing up Active Directory on Windows 2000 Servers
The specific Active Directory Add-On allows Backup for Workgroups to interact directly with the Active Directory API, so it
will backup the Active Directory database even while it is in use. Great for older Windows 2000 servers that do not have VSS support. Applicable for any Windows 2000 Server or even a Windows 2008/2003 Server that is only acting as a
Domain Controller.
Q:
How do I activate the Open File Add-On or the Active Directory Add-On?
You activate the Add-Ons from the Data Repository Manager.
Go to the Data Repository Manager and select the Clients panel. Select the
name of the Client computer for which you would like to use the Active Directory
or Open File Add-on
and then press the Modify button. Now you can check/tick the appropriate
Add-On options and be sure to save your changes.
Q: How do I
restore Active Directory?
The process of restoring Active Directory is dependent upon whether Active
Directory is still running or not. You do not need to know whether Active
Directory is running (or not) to complete a restoration. Backup for Workgroups
will lead you through the restoration process that is appropriate for your
environment.
- Restoring Active Directory When Active Directory is NOT Running - If you
need to perform a bare metal restore, you will be restoring Active Directory
to a computer that is not running Active Directory. During the restoration
process of the System Registry, Backup for Workgroups automatically restores
the appropriate Active Directory information. You do not need to complete any
additional steps. Once the computer running Active Directory is restored, your
Active Directory computer is back to normal operation.
- Restoring Active Directory When Active Directory IS Running - Because
Windows will not allow for the restoration of Active Directory while it is
running, the process of restoring Active Directory in this case is divided
into two (2) parts. The Backup Client completes the first part for you when
you select a restoration process containing Active Directory. The second part
requires user intervention and cannot be automated.
- Visit our Support
Center to read the specific steps you will need to perform when restoring
Active Directory on a computer that already has Active Directory running on
it.
Be sure to check out more of our FAQs
if you still have questions.
If you are looking for detailed steps on how to do things with Backup for
Workgroups, take a look at our Support
Center for detailed How-To instructions.
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Version 4.1
Supports Windows 2008
(32-bit & 64-bit)
Exchange 2007 & Vista
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