How to I remotely schedule backups on network PCs

[Guest OscarVogel]

I need to schedule backups to run once on approximately 30 PCs on the

network. Most of the PCs already use task scheduler and ntbackup to backup

files to a server. But I need to run a seperate one time backup of

particular folders on each of the PCs. I'd like to schedule the one time

backups to run at scattered times over this weekend.

 

I'm hoping to avoid physically sitting down at each workstation to schedule

the task. I'd like to simply create a batch file and then somehow add a

scheduled task without going to each PC. My biggest problem is how to

schedule the tasks remotely. Or is there a completely better way to do

this? (should I instead schedule the server to pull the backups from the

PCs?)

 

I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

[Guest Shenan Stanley]

Re: How to I remotely schedule backups on network PCs

 

OscarVogel wrote:

> I need to schedule backups to run once on approximately 30 PCs on

> the network. Most of the PCs already use task scheduler and

> ntbackup to backup files to a server. But I need to run a seperate

> one time backup of particular folders on each of the PCs. I'd like

> to schedule the one time backups to run at scattered times over

> this weekend.

> I'm hoping to avoid physically sitting down at each workstation to

> schedule the task. I'd like to simply create a batch file and then

> somehow add a scheduled task without going to each PC. My biggest

> problem is how to schedule the tasks remotely. Or is there a

> completely better way to do this? (should I instead schedule the

> server to pull the backups from the PCs?)

>

> I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

 

The "schtasks" command line utility?

 

SCHTASKS /parameter [arguments]

 

Description:

Enables an administrator to create, delete, query, change, run and

end scheduled tasks on a local or remote system. Replaces AT.exe.

 

Parameter List:

/Create Creates a new scheduled task.

/Delete Deletes the scheduled task(s).

/Query Displays all scheduled tasks.

/Change Changes the properties of scheduled task.

/Run Runs the scheduled task immediately.

/End Stops the currently running scheduled task.

/? Displays this help/usage.

 

Examples:

SCHTASKS

SCHTASKS /?

SCHTASKS /Run /?

SCHTASKS /End /?

SCHTASKS /Create /?

SCHTASKS /Delete /?

SCHTASKS /Query /?

SCHTASKS /Change /?

 

--

Shenan Stanley

MS-MVP

--

How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

[Guest Danny Sanders]

Re: How to I remotely schedule backups on network PCs

 

You might consider training your users to save their files to the server in

a home folder you create for them. You could then just back up the server.

No need to worry about if a user left their computer on or not. Less $$$

because you don't need a backup agent for each PC. Eliminates backing up

files over the network. You could just attach the tape to the server and

since the server runs all the time you could backup the server when you

want.

 

 

hth

DDS

 

"OscarVogel" <rtk@divecochran.com> wrote in message

news:52AD3C7B-8EEE-4000-9F37-F531404DD9E5@microsoft.com...

>I need to schedule backups to run once on approximately 30 PCs on the

>network. Most of the PCs already use task scheduler and ntbackup to backup

>files to a server. But I need to run a seperate one time backup of

>particular folders on each of the PCs. I'd like to schedule the one time

>backups to run at scattered times over this weekend.

>

> I'm hoping to avoid physically sitting down at each workstation to

> schedule the task. I'd like to simply create a batch file and then

> somehow add a scheduled task without going to each PC. My biggest problem

> is how to schedule the tasks remotely. Or is there a completely better

> way to do this? (should I instead schedule the server to pull the backups

> from the PCs?)

>

> I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

>

>