In need of Windows Server 2012 backup schedule weekly

The Windows Server Backup (WSB), built-in backup utility of Server 2012 (R2), allows its users to create backup for current operating system (OS). For example, image Windows Server 2012 to new hard drive for protection. However, the Windows Server 2012 backup types providing by Backup Schedule Wizard are only “Once a day” and “More than once a day”. In other words, it cannot back up in a lesser frequency like weekly or monthly.

Nevertheless, there are cases for users who want to perform a weekly backup on Server 2012. In general, the situations are:

  • Reducing backup frequency as the server is already protected by a Database Availability Group.
  • Windows Server 2012 backup multiple schedules. For instance, files and folders are backed up daily but you want to create a lesser frequency backup for system state drive.
  • Some certain disks like external hard drives are added weekly. Therefore, a daily backup task will cause “Backup failed” error six times a week.

Fortunately, you can complete weekly backup in Windows Server 2012 in other ways. Two most used ways will be introduced below.

Windows Server 2012 backup once a week with Task Scheduler

Except for Task Scheduler, you’ll also need the help of Windows Server 2012 Wbadmin commands in this part.

1. Go Server Manager > Dashboard > Tools > Task Scheduler.

2. In Task Scheduler click “Create Task” under the “Actions” tab on the right side.

3. In the Create Task window, name the task in General tab if you want to. Meanwhile, switch the option to “Run whether user is logged on or not” under Security options.

4. In Triggers tab click on the “New” button. Then, specify the day in a week (or in a month) to run the backup.

5. In Actions tab click on the “New” button as well. Here is the step where you input the wbadmin commands. Type it in the pane next to “Add arguments (optional)”. For example, to back up the entire C: drive including all critical volumes to the H: drive, please write this command:

start backup –backupTarget:H: -include:C: -allCritical -quiet

Descriptions:

  • start backup: start the wbadmin.exe
  • -backupTarget: the target volume to store the backups.
  • -include: the volume(s) to backup. To backup more than one volume, separate them with a comma.
  • -allCritical: tells the backup program also includes any other data that are required for a full server recovery.
  • -quiet: to perform unattended backup tasks.

6. You can also configure other settings in the left “Conditions” and “Settings” tabs as you wish. Then, click OK. Note that you’ll be prompted to enter a user password after.

Surely, you can make a script batch file from Command Prompt (Windows PowerShell) and let Task Scheduler to execute it. For example, to back up system state drive on every Saturday (SAT) at 18:00 using CMD, you need to input:

SCHTASKS /CREATE /SC WEEKLY /D SAT /TN WeeklySystemStateBackup /RL HIGHEST /ST 18:00 /TR “Wbadmin start systemstatebackup –backupTarget:H: -include:C: -allCritial -quiet”

Descriptions:

  • SCHTASKS: scheduler tasks.
  • /Create: create a task.
  • /SC: schedule.
  • /D: the day in a week to run.
  • /TN: task name.
  • /RL: run level.
  • /ST: start time.
  • /TR: trigger.

If the Windows Server Backup Scheduler not running as expected or the Task Scheduler does not start properly, you can manually start the task to see if it works. If not, check if the task is set to run whether user is logged on or not, or check if the wbadmin command is correct.

For users who are familiar with Windows Server Task Scheduler or Command Line Interface, they may find it is very convenient to let Server 2012 backup weekly. However, for common users, these methods are way too complex and error-prone, too.

In addition, only partitions formatted with NTFS file system can be included in the backup, and the critical volumes are not possible be set as the backup target location. Worse, scheduled backup on network share will only be completed with full backups instead of incremental or differential backups. Under such circumstances, you may want to turn to third-party server backup tools to complete weekly backup tasks in easy steps.

Windows Server backup weekly via easy-to-use server backup software

AOMEI Backupper Server, professional yet easy-to-use server backup software, allows you to backup Windows Server 2012 weekly with its own services or Windows Task Scheduler. It has a graphical user interface that helps you create weekly backup tasks in a few clicks. Partitions that are not formatted with NTFS can be backed up. The backup target location is not limited as well.

To demonstrate how the software back up Windows Server 2012 step by step, following will take system backup as an example.

1. Download 30-day free trial in the first place. Install and run AOMEI Backupper on Server 2012.

2. In the main console click “Backup” and then “System Backup”.

3. As you can see, the needed volume(s) is (are) selected by default. Now, you need to select the target location and edit task name as you wish. You can back up to local disk, external storage, NAS, network share, etc.

4. Click “Schedule” beneath and select “Weekly” in the General tab. Then specify the day and time to back up. Click “OK”.

Tips: The scheduled backup will run in the way of incremental backup by default. You can change it to full backup or differential backup in the “Advanced” tab.

5. (Optional) Select a backup strategy from “Scheme” to automatically delete obsolete backups to save disk space while keeping backups up-to-date.

6. Finally, click “Start Backup” to run or add the task after your confirmation.