Windows 2000 introduced the Removable Storage database that is supposed to help manage tape/CD/DVD media that is inserted into a drive.  The whole process helps to keep track of things like tapes, however it makes the process of doing a backup very difficult, especially if all you want to do is stick in the next available tape and let the computer do the backup.

Keeping backup simple is the key, automating it is another.  Backup is one of the most important things that a school can do, as if your computer goes down, gets nicked or someone deletes important data, you will have no one to turn too unless you have implemented a tape backup policy.

Most school administrations or Network Managers will be responsible for overseeing the backup procedures, and as the backup is usually the last thing of the day to do, it needs to be simple.  This is where automating the backup makes sense.

Windows 2000 Server makes the process far to complicated for everyday school administrators to deal with, so a scripted method is the prefered choice for schools in the LEA where I work, unless they are using software such as Tapeware or Seagate backup-exec.

Although Microsoft have implemented the Removable storage system, it is still possible to ignore it when using the NT backup program, simply calling the ntbackup.exe with the /UM  (unmanaged) switch.  This is what we are going to use.

The following lists a batch file that I use for school with Windows 2000 servers with Onstream tape drives.

#########################
  @ECHO OFF
  ECHO RUNNING BACKUP 
  REM *********************************************************
  REM Refresh the tape library 
  
  rsm refresh /lf"Onstream DI-30" 
  
  REM ********************************************************* 
  REM wait for a short time so that the library will update
  
  C:\backupdoze.exe 30
  REM *********************************************************
  REM Obtain todays date as this will be used to help identify the tape
  REM Store to a variable called dt
  
  for /f "Tokens=1-4 Delims=/ " %%i in ('date /t') do set dt=%%i-%%j-%%k-%%l
  
  REM *********************************************************
  REM Run NTBackup in Unmanaged mode as suggested in Q239892
  REM from the Microsoft support site.
  
  ECHO Now starting the Backup
  C:\WINNT\system32\NTBACKUP.EXE backup "@C:\backup\fullbackup.bks"   
  /n "Full Backup - %dt%" /d "Full Backup - %dt%"   
  /v:yes /r:no /rs:no /hc:on /m normal /j "Job Scheduled"   
  /l:s /um /p "miniQIC"
  
  REM *********************************************************
  REM Now Eject the tape, if the drive supports it
  ECHO Now refreshing the tape library
  rsm refresh /lf"Onstream DI-30"
  c:\backupdoze.exe 30
  ECHO Now Ejecting the tape
  ECHO May get an error message - do not worry - eject manually
  RSM.EXE eject /PF"Full Backup %dt% - 1" /astart
  REM *********************************************************
  REM Now doze for 10 seconds
  c:\backupdoze.exe 10
  REM *********************************************************
  ECHO Backup Finished
  
 #########################
   

To make this script work for your computer you will need to replace "Onstream DI-30" with the name of the drive that the Removable storage manager knows it as. 

Run ntmsmgr.msc, navigate to Libraries, right click on the name of your device and view the properties.  Copy the name of the device into the windows clipboard.  Now close the MMC and paste/overwrite the "Onstream DI-30" with your device eg. "PIONEER DVD RW  DVR-106D"  (please note NTBackup does not work with DVD-RW drives, this is just an example).

The next thing that you will need to alter is the "miniQIC" bit of the NTBackup command.  To get this value the easiest thing to do is to run NTBackup as if you are going to run a manual backup, click on the Backup Tab.  At the bottom of the dialog, there is an selection dropdown, this may say something like "4mm DDS" or "File" or whatever your drive type is.  Write this down and update the NTBackup line.

This batch file and other applications can be downloaded from repository:

Backupfiles.zip 

Scheduling the Backup.

It is possible to use the AT command to schedule the backup script, however this will cause the backup logs to disappear into the operating system and you would need to track them down for yourself.  This is because the AT command uses the SYSTEM account to run the applications - which doesn't have a profile, hence the log files going walkies.  Instead it is recommended that a user called BACKUP is created, this will be a Backup operator and will have its own profile so that we know where to find the log files.

Use the Tasks applet to create a new scheduled task.  To get to the Tasks applet, click start, Run and then type TASKS, click OK.  Task Scheduler will be displayed.  Right Click and New to create a new task.  The wizard will guide you through the process of creating the task.  Enter the details of the BACKUP user and the password so that the backup job can run independantly of anyother user.

Once the task has been ran for the first time, you will be able to access the backup log files, these are typically stored in C:\Documents and settings\Backup\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\Backup\Data.  There will be a series of 10 backup logs created, these are rotated, so once number 10 is used, log file number 1 is overwritten and the process will count back up to number 10 again.  The size of the backup log will depend on the logging options you have chosen.