A dynamic-link library (DLL) (Edbbcli.dll) that extends the Windows NT Ntbackup.exe program is available on the Microsoft Exchange Server compact disc. One of the benefits of Microsoft Exchange Server and the Ntbackup.exe program is that they provide live backup of the information store and directory without interrupting the messaging system. Ntbackup.exe also provides file-based backup services that back up the Windows NT registry.
Microsoft Exchange Server does not have to be taken offline to perform backups. The entire information store, directory, MTA, and system attendant remain in service during an online backup. Although the information store and directory can be backed up online, files in directories that are being accessed by other Microsoft Exchange Server for Windows NT services, such as the Directory Synchronization Component or Microsoft Mail Connector (Appletalk) MTA, should be backed up when the respective service is not running. You can automate and schedule backups by using the Winat.exe command.
When you want to back up your files manually, you can use command-line switches with Ntbackup.exe.
Caution In a batch file, limit the command line to 256 characters. Exceeding this limit can result in files not being backed up and can stop the process without warning.
The syntax for this command is as follows:
Ntbackup operation path [/a][/v][/r][/d"text"][/b][/hc:{on | off}] [/t{option}][/l"file name"][/e][/tape:{n}]
Ntbackup switches are listed in the following table.
| Switch | Description |
| Path | If you are backing up a drive, specifies one or more paths of the directories to be backed up. If you are backing up Microsoft Exchange Server components, specifies the component and the server as <DS server /IS server>. Server is the name of the server you are backing up, preceded by two backslashes. "DS" indicates that you are backing up the directory, and "IS" indicates that you are backing up the information store. |
| /a | Adds backup sets after the last backup set on the tape. When /a is not specified, the program reuses the tape and replaces previous data. When more than one drive is specified but /a is not, the program overwrites the contents of the tape with the information from the first drive selected and then appends the backup sets for the remaining drives. |
| /v | Verifies the operation. |
| /r | Restricts access. |
| /d "text" | Specifies a description of the backup contents. |
| /b | Specifies that the local registry is to be backed up. |
| /hc:on or /hc:off | Specifies that hardware compression is on or off. |
| /t <option> | Specifies the backup type. The option can be one of the following: normal, copy, incremental, differential, or daily. |
| Normal | All selected files or Microsoft Exchange Server components are backed up and marked as such on the disk. |
| Copy | All selected files or Microsoft Exchange Server components are backed up, but they are not marked as such on the disk. |
| Incremental | Among the selected files or Microsoft Exchange Server components, only those that have been modified are backed up and marked as such on the disk. |
| Differential | The selected files or Microsoft Exchange Server components that have been modified are backed up, but they are not marked as such on the disk. |
| Daily | Among the selected files, only those that have been modified the same day are backed up, but they are not marked as such on the disk. This can be useful if you want to take work home and need a quick way to select the files that you worked on that day. This option is not available when you are backing up Microsoft Exchange Server components. |
| /l "file name" | Specifies the file name for the backup log. |
| /e | Specifies that the backup log includes exceptions only. |
| /tape:<n> |
Specifies the tape drive to which the files should be backed up, where n is a number from zero through nine that corresponds to the tape drive number listed in the registry. |