Discussion:
Backup INETPUB Directory
(too old to reply)
Diane Walker
2007-05-16 13:55:05 UTC
Permalink
We are running IIS on Windows 2003 Server. Would you just backup INETPUB
directory for IIS or would you backup the entire server? Thanks.
Justin Rich
2007-05-16 14:37:20 UTC
Permalink
guess that depends on what the server hosts and what you care about.

if its a simple site with a basic server install than yes just the files are
fine..

if you get in to more advanced websites you need more than just the files.
you need to do an IIS backup (metabase)
and there are several ways to do that.

if you just want to make sure you have everything you may possibly need
(running a server for someone else) then just back up the whole thing.. disk
space is cheap.

basically imagine the box caught on fire and you had to rebuild with a new
server... whats fastest and what will get you back online 100%

Justin
Post by Diane Walker
We are running IIS on Windows 2003 Server. Would you just backup INETPUB
directory for IIS or would you backup the entire server? Thanks.
Diane Walker
2007-05-16 16:31:28 UTC
Permalink
Thanks for your prompt response. I will take your recommendation to backup
the entire server. By the way, how do backup IIS metabase? Thanks.
Post by Justin Rich
guess that depends on what the server hosts and what you care about.
if its a simple site with a basic server install than yes just the files
are fine..
if you get in to more advanced websites you need more than just the files.
you need to do an IIS backup (metabase)
and there are several ways to do that.
if you just want to make sure you have everything you may possibly need
(running a server for someone else) then just back up the whole thing..
disk space is cheap.
basically imagine the box caught on fire and you had to rebuild with a new
server... whats fastest and what will get you back online 100%
Justin
Post by Diane Walker
We are running IIS on Windows 2003 Server. Would you just backup INETPUB
directory for IIS or would you backup the entire server? Thanks.
Justin Rich
2007-05-16 18:29:33 UTC
Permalink
to do a manual backup your can open up the IIS MMC and right click on the
the root node and under all tasks there is a backup/restore config.


White paper
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/en-us/windowsserver/articles/art_iismetabak.mspx

KB
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302573

web
http://www.data-backup-and-storage.com/iis-backup.html

automation script
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/c291e551-3c45-4650-b5ce-e1d5bce6c15b1033.mspx?mfr=true


the above info should give you plenty of information.

you dont typically need to backup the metabase too often. only if you make
changes within IIS, which should be pretty rare.

Justin
Post by Diane Walker
Thanks for your prompt response. I will take your recommendation to
backup the entire server. By the way, how do backup IIS metabase?
Thanks.
Post by Justin Rich
guess that depends on what the server hosts and what you care about.
if its a simple site with a basic server install than yes just the files
are fine..
if you get in to more advanced websites you need more than just the
files. you need to do an IIS backup (metabase)
and there are several ways to do that.
if you just want to make sure you have everything you may possibly need
(running a server for someone else) then just back up the whole thing..
disk space is cheap.
basically imagine the box caught on fire and you had to rebuild with a
new server... whats fastest and what will get you back online 100%
Justin
Post by Diane Walker
We are running IIS on Windows 2003 Server. Would you just backup
INETPUB directory for IIS or would you backup the entire server?
Thanks.
David Wang
2007-05-16 19:45:45 UTC
Permalink
Post by Diane Walker
Thanks for your prompt response. I will take your recommendation to backup
the entire server. By the way, how do backup IIS metabase? Thanks.
Post by Justin Rich
guess that depends on what the server hosts and what you care about.
if its a simple site with a basic server install than yes just the files
are fine..
if you get in to more advanced websites you need more than just the files.
you need to do an IIS backup (metabase)
and there are several ways to do that.
if you just want to make sure you have everything you may possibly need
(running a server for someone else) then just back up the whole thing..
disk space is cheap.
basically imagine the box caught on fire and you had to rebuild with a new
server... whats fastest and what will get you back online 100%
Justin
Post by Diane Walker
We are running IIS on Windows 2003 Server. Would you just backup INETPUB
directory for IIS or would you backup the entire server? Thanks.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
If the backup of the entire server copies all files, then IIS metabase
should be one of those files.

The actual file of interest is %windir%\System32\inetsrv\metabase.xml.

However, some of the values in it are encrypted with the machine's
private key, which means that you can't just copy metabase.xml to any
machine and use it. It is locked to that machine (or a complete system
restore, including machine private key, of that machine).

For the paranoid, you may want to backup IIS metabase with its Backup/
Restore command (accessible via top level "All Tasks" of the Computer
Node in the IIS manager UI) in addition to full system backup.


//David
http://w3-4u.blogspot.com
http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
//
Diane Walker
2007-05-17 00:45:32 UTC
Permalink
Thank you very much Justin and David for your valuable information.
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Thanks for your prompt response. I will take your recommendation to backup
the entire server. By the way, how do backup IIS metabase? Thanks.
Post by Justin Rich
guess that depends on what the server hosts and what you care about.
if its a simple site with a basic server install than yes just the files
are fine..
if you get in to more advanced websites you need more than just the files.
you need to do an IIS backup (metabase)
and there are several ways to do that.
if you just want to make sure you have everything you may possibly need
(running a server for someone else) then just back up the whole thing..
disk space is cheap.
basically imagine the box caught on fire and you had to rebuild with a new
server... whats fastest and what will get you back online 100%
Justin
Post by Diane Walker
We are running IIS on Windows 2003 Server. Would you just backup INETPUB
directory for IIS or would you backup the entire server? Thanks.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
If the backup of the entire server copies all files, then IIS metabase
should be one of those files.
The actual file of interest is %windir%\System32\inetsrv\metabase.xml.
However, some of the values in it are encrypted with the machine's
private key, which means that you can't just copy metabase.xml to any
machine and use it. It is locked to that machine (or a complete system
restore, including machine private key, of that machine).
For the paranoid, you may want to backup IIS metabase with its Backup/
Restore command (accessible via top level "All Tasks" of the Computer
Node in the IIS manager UI) in addition to full system backup.
//David
http://w3-4u.blogspot.com
http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
//
Ken Schaefer
2007-05-17 10:15:47 UTC
Permalink
Hi,

Beyond your content files, and the IIS metabase, do you have an COM+
applications you have installed? And ISAPI filters? Any ODBC DSNs? Any SSL
Certificates?

I would do a System State backup which backs up most of the critical
components of the server (including Metabase, COM+, Registry, Certificate
Store etc), as well as your content files.

Cheers
Ken
--
My IIS Blog: www.adOpenStatic.com/cs/blogs/ken
Post by Diane Walker
Thank you very much Justin and David for your valuable information.
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Thanks for your prompt response. I will take your recommendation to
backup
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
the entire server. By the way, how do backup IIS metabase? Thanks.
Post by Justin Rich
guess that depends on what the server hosts and what you care about.
if its a simple site with a basic server install than yes just the
files
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Post by Justin Rich
are fine..
if you get in to more advanced websites you need more than just the
files.
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Post by Justin Rich
you need to do an IIS backup (metabase)
and there are several ways to do that.
if you just want to make sure you have everything you may possibly
need
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Post by Justin Rich
(running a server for someone else) then just back up the whole
thing..
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Post by Justin Rich
disk space is cheap.
basically imagine the box caught on fire and you had to rebuild with
a
new
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Post by Justin Rich
server... whats fastest and what will get you back online 100%
Justin
Post by Diane Walker
We are running IIS on Windows 2003 Server. Would you just backup
INETPUB
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Post by Justin Rich
Post by Diane Walker
directory for IIS or would you backup the entire server? Thanks.-
Hide quoted text -
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
- Show quoted text -
If the backup of the entire server copies all files, then IIS metabase
should be one of those files.
The actual file of interest is %windir%\System32\inetsrv\metabase.xml.
However, some of the values in it are encrypted with the machine's
private key, which means that you can't just copy metabase.xml to any
machine and use it. It is locked to that machine (or a complete system
restore, including machine private key, of that machine).
For the paranoid, you may want to backup IIS metabase with its Backup/
Restore command (accessible via top level "All Tasks" of the Computer
Node in the IIS manager UI) in addition to full system backup.
//David
http://w3-4u.blogspot.com
http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
//
Diane Walker
2007-05-18 14:30:52 UTC
Permalink
Thank you, Ken. We have ODBC DSNs. I will take your recommendation.
Post by Ken Schaefer
Hi,
Beyond your content files, and the IIS metabase, do you have an COM+
applications you have installed? And ISAPI filters? Any ODBC DSNs? Any SSL
Certificates?
I would do a System State backup which backs up most of the critical
components of the server (including Metabase, COM+, Registry, Certificate
Store etc), as well as your content files.
Cheers
Ken
--
My IIS Blog: www.adOpenStatic.com/cs/blogs/ken
Post by Diane Walker
Thank you very much Justin and David for your valuable information.
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Thanks for your prompt response. I will take your recommendation to
backup
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
the entire server. By the way, how do backup IIS metabase? Thanks.
Post by Justin Rich
guess that depends on what the server hosts and what you care about.
if its a simple site with a basic server install than yes just the
files
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Post by Justin Rich
are fine..
if you get in to more advanced websites you need more than just the
files.
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Post by Justin Rich
you need to do an IIS backup (metabase)
and there are several ways to do that.
if you just want to make sure you have everything you may possibly
need
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Post by Justin Rich
(running a server for someone else) then just back up the whole
thing..
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Post by Justin Rich
disk space is cheap.
basically imagine the box caught on fire and you had to rebuild with
a
new
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Post by Justin Rich
server... whats fastest and what will get you back online 100%
Justin
Post by Diane Walker
We are running IIS on Windows 2003 Server. Would you just backup
INETPUB
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Post by Justin Rich
Post by Diane Walker
directory for IIS or would you backup the entire server? Thanks.-
Hide quoted text -
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
- Show quoted text -
If the backup of the entire server copies all files, then IIS metabase
should be one of those files.
The actual file of interest is %windir%\System32\inetsrv\metabase.xml.
However, some of the values in it are encrypted with the machine's
private key, which means that you can't just copy metabase.xml to any
machine and use it. It is locked to that machine (or a complete system
restore, including machine private key, of that machine).
For the paranoid, you may want to backup IIS metabase with its Backup/
Restore command (accessible via top level "All Tasks" of the Computer
Node in the IIS manager UI) in addition to full system backup.
//David
http://w3-4u.blogspot.com
http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
//
Diane Walker
2007-05-18 14:34:16 UTC
Permalink
How often would you backup IIS Metabase? Would you back it up when you add
a new site or a new Virtual Directory? Thank you.
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Thanks for your prompt response. I will take your recommendation to backup
the entire server. By the way, how do backup IIS metabase? Thanks.
Post by Justin Rich
guess that depends on what the server hosts and what you care about.
if its a simple site with a basic server install than yes just the files
are fine..
if you get in to more advanced websites you need more than just the files.
you need to do an IIS backup (metabase)
and there are several ways to do that.
if you just want to make sure you have everything you may possibly need
(running a server for someone else) then just back up the whole thing..
disk space is cheap.
basically imagine the box caught on fire and you had to rebuild with a new
server... whats fastest and what will get you back online 100%
Justin
Post by Diane Walker
We are running IIS on Windows 2003 Server. Would you just backup INETPUB
directory for IIS or would you backup the entire server? Thanks.-
Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
If the backup of the entire server copies all files, then IIS metabase
should be one of those files.
The actual file of interest is %windir%\System32\inetsrv\metabase.xml.
However, some of the values in it are encrypted with the machine's
private key, which means that you can't just copy metabase.xml to any
machine and use it. It is locked to that machine (or a complete system
restore, including machine private key, of that machine).
For the paranoid, you may want to backup IIS metabase with its Backup/
Restore command (accessible via top level "All Tasks" of the Computer
Node in the IIS manager UI) in addition to full system backup.
//David
http://w3-4u.blogspot.com
http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
//
Justin Rich
2007-05-21 15:33:58 UTC
Permalink
any time you make a change to IIS, so yes those would be good times to do
it.
Post by Diane Walker
How often would you backup IIS Metabase? Would you back it up when you
add a new site or a new Virtual Directory? Thank you.
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Thanks for your prompt response. I will take your recommendation to backup
the entire server. By the way, how do backup IIS metabase? Thanks.
Post by Justin Rich
guess that depends on what the server hosts and what you care about.
if its a simple site with a basic server install than yes just the files
are fine..
if you get in to more advanced websites you need more than just the files.
you need to do an IIS backup (metabase)
and there are several ways to do that.
if you just want to make sure you have everything you may possibly need
(running a server for someone else) then just back up the whole thing..
disk space is cheap.
basically imagine the box caught on fire and you had to rebuild with a new
server... whats fastest and what will get you back online 100%
Justin
Post by Diane Walker
We are running IIS on Windows 2003 Server. Would you just backup INETPUB
directory for IIS or would you backup the entire server? Thanks.-
Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
If the backup of the entire server copies all files, then IIS metabase
should be one of those files.
The actual file of interest is %windir%\System32\inetsrv\metabase.xml.
However, some of the values in it are encrypted with the machine's
private key, which means that you can't just copy metabase.xml to any
machine and use it. It is locked to that machine (or a complete system
restore, including machine private key, of that machine).
For the paranoid, you may want to backup IIS metabase with its Backup/
Restore command (accessible via top level "All Tasks" of the Computer
Node in the IIS manager UI) in addition to full system backup.
//David
http://w3-4u.blogspot.com
http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
//
Diane Walker
2007-05-22 19:41:18 UTC
Permalink
Thank you very much, Justin.
Post by Justin Rich
any time you make a change to IIS, so yes those would be good times to do
it.
Post by Diane Walker
How often would you backup IIS Metabase? Would you back it up when you
add a new site or a new Virtual Directory? Thank you.
Post by David Wang
Post by Diane Walker
Thanks for your prompt response. I will take your recommendation to backup
the entire server. By the way, how do backup IIS metabase? Thanks.
Post by Justin Rich
guess that depends on what the server hosts and what you care about.
if its a simple site with a basic server install than yes just the files
are fine..
if you get in to more advanced websites you need more than just the files.
you need to do an IIS backup (metabase)
and there are several ways to do that.
if you just want to make sure you have everything you may possibly need
(running a server for someone else) then just back up the whole thing..
disk space is cheap.
basically imagine the box caught on fire and you had to rebuild with a new
server... whats fastest and what will get you back online 100%
Justin
Post by Diane Walker
We are running IIS on Windows 2003 Server. Would you just backup INETPUB
directory for IIS or would you backup the entire server? Thanks.-
Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
If the backup of the entire server copies all files, then IIS metabase
should be one of those files.
The actual file of interest is %windir%\System32\inetsrv\metabase.xml.
However, some of the values in it are encrypted with the machine's
private key, which means that you can't just copy metabase.xml to any
machine and use it. It is locked to that machine (or a complete system
restore, including machine private key, of that machine).
For the paranoid, you may want to backup IIS metabase with its Backup/
Restore command (accessible via top level "All Tasks" of the Computer
Node in the IIS manager UI) in addition to full system backup.
//David
http://w3-4u.blogspot.com
http://blogs.msdn.com/David.Wang
//
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