ntbackup batch file for unattended tape backup/overwrite

[Guest David P. Lurie]

W2K3 Standard

 

How can ntbackup be run from the command line in a batch file to overwrite

an existing tape in a DAT drive when the tape name is unknown, and will

change from day to day?

 

The GUI version will ask whether to use an existing tape in the drive, and

then whether to overwrite.

 

None of the ntbackup command line switches explicitly address that issue,

but I thought that /P "4mm DDS" might work, i.e.

 

ntbackup backup "@filename.bks" /J "job name" /P "4mm DDS" ...

 

Unfortunately, am currently about 1 hour into a 68GB backup/verify, so can't

test it yet.

 

Thanks

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: ntbackup batch file for unattended tape backup/overwrite

 

 

"David P. Lurie" <DavidPLurie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:1EAB4148-4AFE-4942-8779-3CDCBB4007B2@microsoft.com...

> W2K3 Standard

>

> How can ntbackup be run from the command line in a batch file to overwrite

> an existing tape in a DAT drive when the tape name is unknown, and will

> change from day to day?

>

> The GUI version will ask whether to use an existing tape in the drive, and

> then whether to overwrite.

>

> None of the ntbackup command line switches explicitly address that issue,

> but I thought that /P "4mm DDS" might work, i.e.

>

> ntbackup backup "@filename.bks" /J "job name" /P "4mm DDS" ...

>

> Unfortunately, am currently about 1 hour into a 68GB backup/verify, so

> can't

> test it yet.

>

> Thanks

 

Try the /um switch for unmanaged backups.

http://www.jsifaq.com/SF/Tips, tips 5955 and 2265

See also http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=239892

[Guest Holz]

Re: ntbackup batch file for unattended tape backup/overwrite

 

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 10:26:01 -0800, David P. Lurie wrote:

> W2K3 Standard

>

> How can ntbackup be run from the command line in a batch file to

> overwrite an existing tape in a DAT drive when the tape name is unknown,

> and will change from day to day?

>

> The GUI version will ask whether to use an existing tape in the drive,

> and then whether to overwrite.

>

> None of the ntbackup command line switches explicitly address that

> issue, but I thought that /P "4mm DDS" might work, i.e.

>

> ntbackup backup "@filename.bks" /J "job name" /P "4mm DDS" ...

>

> Unfortunately, am currently about 1 hour into a 68GB backup/verify, so

> can't test it yet.

>

> Thanks

 

Create a job in ntbackup with all the parameters you need and schedule

it. Copy the command from the scheduled job into a batch file.

 

 

 

--

:-)

[Guest David P. Lurie]

Re: ntbackup batch file for unattended tape backup/overwrite

 

Thanks for everyone's assistance.

 

Configuring and saving a backup only saves the file selections, but does

appear to save other options to run unless changed in the ntbackup command

line batch file, eg HC, verify.

 

I found the /UM switch in "How to schedule unattended backups by using a

stand-alone tape library", KB314844 as well, but haven't been able to test it

yet. The tape from yesterday's backup has ejected, and I'll have to drop by

the office to put a new tape in the drive.

 

Why isn't the /UM switch listed in either ntbackup online help, or in "How

to use command line parameters with the Ntbackup command in Windows Server

2003" KB814583?

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: ntbackup batch file for unattended tape backup/overwrite

 

 

"David P. Lurie" <DavidPLurie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:3AC744C3-DACF-4DFA-B27B-F7E9F0BA4CAE@microsoft.com...

> Thanks for everyone's assistance.

>

> Configuring and saving a backup only saves the file selections, but does

> appear to save other options to run unless changed in the ntbackup command

> line batch file, eg HC, verify.

>

> I found the /UM switch in "How to schedule unattended backups by using a

> stand-alone tape library", KB314844 as well, but haven't been able to test

> it

> yet. The tape from yesterday's backup has ejected, and I'll have to drop

> by

> the office to put a new tape in the drive.

>

> Why isn't the /UM switch listed in either ntbackup online help, or in "How

> to use command line parameters with the Ntbackup command in Windows Server

> 2003" KB814583?

 

Your observation is correct: The .bks file only saves your

selections, not your switches. They are contained in the

backup command itself.

 

It appears that Microsoft omitted the /um switch from the

2003 help file for ntbackup.exe.

[Guest David P. Lurie]

Re: ntbackup batch file for unattended tape backup/overwrite

 

I tried the following in a batch file, which fails, and has a blank report,

and no ntbackup error in event viewer:

 

ntbackup backup "@c:\shared\backup_scripts\test.bks" /P "4mm DDS" /UM

 

where test.bks contains just a single directory:

 

C:\shared\backup_scripts

 

What should I try next?

 

 

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>

> "David P. Lurie" <DavidPLurie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:3AC744C3-DACF-4DFA-B27B-F7E9F0BA4CAE@microsoft.com...

> > Thanks for everyone's assistance.

> >

> > Configuring and saving a backup only saves the file selections, but does

> > appear to save other options to run unless changed in the ntbackup command

> > line batch file, eg HC, verify.

> >

> > I found the /UM switch in "How to schedule unattended backups by using a

> > stand-alone tape library", KB314844 as well, but haven't been able to test

> > it

> > yet. The tape from yesterday's backup has ejected, and I'll have to drop

> > by

> > the office to put a new tape in the drive.

> >

> > Why isn't the /UM switch listed in either ntbackup online help, or in "How

> > to use command line parameters with the Ntbackup command in Windows Server

> > 2003" KB814583?

>

> Your observation is correct: The .bks file only saves your

> selections, not your switches. They are contained in the

> backup command itself.

>

> It appears that Microsoft omitted the /um switch from the

> 2003 help file for ntbackup.exe.

>

>

>

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: ntbackup batch file for unattended tape backup/overwrite

 

You should execute this command from a Command Prompt

so that you can see what's going on.

 

 

"David P. Lurie" <DavidPLurie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:BD79FD48-03F6-4B6B-9495-3C2EC4A30FDB@microsoft.com...

>I tried the following in a batch file, which fails, and has a blank report,

> and no ntbackup error in event viewer:

>

> ntbackup backup "@c:\shared\backup_scripts\test.bks" /P "4mm DDS" /UM

>

> where test.bks contains just a single directory:

>

> C:\shared\backup_scripts

>

> What should I try next?

>

>

> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>

>>

>> "David P. Lurie" <DavidPLurie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:3AC744C3-DACF-4DFA-B27B-F7E9F0BA4CAE@microsoft.com...

>> > Thanks for everyone's assistance.

>> >

>> > Configuring and saving a backup only saves the file selections, but

>> > does

>> > appear to save other options to run unless changed in the ntbackup

>> > command

>> > line batch file, eg HC, verify.

>> >

>> > I found the /UM switch in "How to schedule unattended backups by using

>> > a

>> > stand-alone tape library", KB314844 as well, but haven't been able to

>> > test

>> > it

>> > yet. The tape from yesterday's backup has ejected, and I'll have to

>> > drop

>> > by

>> > the office to put a new tape in the drive.

>> >

>> > Why isn't the /UM switch listed in either ntbackup online help, or in

>> > "How

>> > to use command line parameters with the Ntbackup command in Windows

>> > Server

>> > 2003" KB814583?

>>

>> Your observation is correct: The .bks file only saves your

>> selections, not your switches. They are contained in the

>> backup command itself.

>>

>> It appears that Microsoft omitted the /um switch from the

>> 2003 help file for ntbackup.exe.

>>

>>

>>