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Step 1: Back Up AD LDS Instance Data

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008

You should back up Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) data and log files regularly to ensure the continued availability of data to applications and users in the event of a system failure.

By default, each instance of AD LDS running on an AD LDS server stores its database file, Adamntds.dit, and the associated log files in %program files%\Microsoft ADAM\instance_name\data, where instance_name is the AD LDS instance name. Include these files as part of the regular backup plan of your organization. You back up data for an AD LDS instance by backing up these files.

In the following sections, you back up your AD LDS instance data using the following tools:

  • Backing up AD LDS instance data with Windows Server Backup

  • Backing up AD LDS instance data with Dsdbutil.exe

For more information about installing Windows Server Backup, see Installing Windows Server Backup (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=96495).

For general information about Windows Server 2008 Windows Server Backup, you can view the Help on your server. To display Help, open Windows Server Backup, and then press F1.

Backing up AD LDS instance data with Windows Server Backup

Membership in the local Backup Operators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).

Important

Before you back up the AD LDS folder of an instance, use the Services snap-in to confirm that the instance is started. To start Services, click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Services. Because the instance service must be running when the files are backed up, you must use a backup utility (such as Windows Server Backup) that can back up open files.

To back up an AD LDS instance using Windows Server Backup

  1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Windows ServerBackup.

  2. On the Action menu, click Backup once.

  3. In the Backup Once Wizard, on the Backup options page, click Different options, and then click Next.

  4. On the Select backup configuration page, click Custom, and then click Next.

  5. Select the volume or volumes that contain the AD LDS database and log files, and then click Next.

Note

You can install the AD LDS database and log files on separate volumes.

  1. On the Specify destination type page, select Local drives or Remote shared folder, depending on whether you want your backup to be stored locally or remotely.

  2. On the Select backup destination page, specify the appropriate drive where you want the backup to be stored.

  3. Complete the wizard to begin the backup operation.

Warning

If you backed up data from an NTFS file system volume, we recommend that you restore the data to an NTFS volume of the same version to prevent loss of data.

Backing up AD LDS instance data with Dsdbutil.exe

With the Dsdbutil.exe tool, you can create installation media that corresponds only to the AD LDS instance that you want to back up, as opposed to backing up entire volumes that contain the AD LDS instance.

Membership in the local Backup Operators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).

To create AD LDS installation media with Dsdbutil.exe

  1. Click Start, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator to open an elevated command prompt.

  2. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    dsdbutil

  3. At the dsdbutil: prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    activate instance <instance_name>

    where <instance_name> is the name of the AD LDS instance that you want to create the installation media for.

    Example:

    activate instance instance1

    At the dsdbutil: prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    ifm

  4. At the ifm: prompt, type the command for the type of installation media that you want to create, and then press ENTER:

    create full <location>

    where <location> is the path to the folder where you want the installation media to be created. You can save the installation media to a network shared folder or to any other type of removable media.

    Example:

    create full C:\Backup\instance1

  5. To exit dsdbutil:

    1. At the ifm: prompt, type quit, and then press ENTER.

    2. At the dsdbutil: prompt, type quit, and then press ENTER.