Active Directory is backed up as part of the system state, a collection of interdependent system components, thus you need to back up and restore system state components together. On a domain controller, the system state backup consists of the following files:
And it responds to security authentication requests (logging in, checking permissions, etc) within a Windows domain. The loss of a domain controller can cause a denial of service (DoS) and finally, your network service can't work normally as before. Anyway, you need to make a Windows 2012 R2 domain controller system state backup when it works well.
Besides, there is another complete backup - system backup, which backs up all the data on the system drive, including the operating system, system settings, boot files, installed programs, personal data, etc. To protect system safety, it will be a better choice. And I'll introduce you both ways in the following.
Windows Server 2012 R2 comes along with a built-in backup software - Windows Server Backup, which allows you to back up a full server (all volumes), selected volumes, bare metal backup, system state, specific files or folder, etc. Thus, you can use it to backup domain controller with the following steps:
Step 1. Open Server Manager and install Windows Server Backup from administrative tools.
Step 2. After installing, open Windows Server Backup and click Backup Once. To schedule backup Windows Server 2012, click Backup Schedule.
Step 3. Choose Different options and click Next.
Step 4. Choose Custom if you only want to create a system state backup in Windows Server 2012 R2 domain controller and click Next. You can also backup a full sever including the system state backup.
Step 5. Click Add Items and select System State. Then, press OK.
Step 6. Verify the included data in this backup and click Next to continue.
Step 7. Select one of destination type, either Local drives or Remote shared folder. Then click Next.
Step 8. Select the destination drive and click Next. Afterward, click Backup on the Confirmation console and close it finally.
Now you may already have a copy of Windows Server 2012 R2 on a domain controller. But if you want to backup it automatically but not occupy much space, you may find it does not allows you to create a system state backup weekly or monthly, only once a day or more than once a day available.
Well then, is there any easier way to backup server 2012 R2 weekly or monthly? The answer is yes, you could try third-party server backup software to do so. And I'll introduce you one such software in the next part.
Qiling Disk Master Server, as one of the professional backup and restore software, can be your best choice and help you schedule system backup for Windows Server 2012 R2 domain controller. And it still applies to other server operating systems, such as, Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, 202 (including R2), SBS 2003, 2008, 2011 and Windows PC systems. Below are some advantages of it:
Want to use this software? Here are detailed steps. Please download the server backup software - Qiling Disk Master Server first. To create system image on unlimited PCs or servers, ty its technician or techplus edition.
Step 1. Launch Qiling Disk Master, then select Backup and System Backup.
Step 3. Edit the Task Name to distinguish it from others. Select a destination path (eg: E:\), since all the required system partitions are selected by default.
Step 4. Click Schedule Backup and enable it, then select Weekly. You can also use Monthly, Event trigger or USB plug in.
Step 5. Confirm the backup task and click Proceed to create a system image in Windows Server 2012 R2 on a domain controller.
The schedule backup keeps all the changes and minimize data loss due to disaster. But it eventualy results in backup disk full issue due to limited space and increasing backups.
You alleviate it through compression, splitting, intelligent sector backup, etc in the Options. You can also delete old backup images directly with one of cleanup methods in the Backup Scheme. And you don't need to worry about disk space issue and data loss due to not creating backup.
You can easily create system state backup in Windows Server 2012 R2 domain controller with its Windows Server Backup. To be honest, it only works if the problem is related to system files or settings. But if it is not bootable, you can only choose to clean install Windows Server 2012 R2 from start.
Thus, it's suggested to create a system backup to achieve the same effect. And it offers you more than you think, such as, flexible backup settings, different backup and cleanup methods, etc. Besides, it is worth mentioning that the backup process in Qiling Disk Master Server will be running in the background and won't interrupt your work.
Don't hesitate to use Qiling Disk Master Server to protect your system and precious data!