Add-in Update: Windows Home Server Backup Database-Backup v1.0.2.2

By on September 25, 2009 in Add-in News, Add-ins & Apps

Alex Kuretz has an update to the tongue-twisting Windows Home Server Backup Database-Backup add-in, which is now at version v1.0.2.2. The add-in allows the user to backup the WHS client backups.

Windows Home Server Backup Database (WHS BDB). This is the database that WHS creates when you enable and schedule backups of your client machines. It contains all of the backups for each of the client machines so that if one were to fail you could restore it using WHS. WHS only creates one copy of this Database and it is stored in the WHS storage pool.

Enable Duplication For WHS Backups. Checking this box modifies WHS so that it duplicates the WHS BD in the same way that folder duplication works. The duplicated copy of the WHS DB is stored on a different disk (just like folder duplication) so that if one of your disks fails then you will not lose the backups of each of your client machines.

What’s new?

  • Redesigned method of drive detection for better accuracy
  • Really display TrueCrypt encrypted drives
  • Disable Duplication Options for server with single Storage Hard Drive
  • Disallow backup to non-NTFS formatted drives (needed for 4GB files)
  • Properly handle network shares and usernames with spaces
  • Do syntax checking of network path format (\\server\share)
  • Store Readme in Software\Add-Ins share so user can access it
  • Improved error messages, including start and stop times in the Event Viewer Application logs

Download: WHS BDBB | Rate this add-in | WGS Review


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About Terry Walsh

Terry Walsh is the founding editor and owner of We Got Served. Since February 2007, the site has provided detailed coverage and analysis of the emerging home server category, and has subsequently grown into a trusted outlet for digital home news and reviews.
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  • sean

    Wow. big improvement. I LOVE the fact that you can now specify a network share. I have an ubuntu box with a 500gb in it and run Samba. I was able to point the WHS BDBB to the samba share which is mapped on my WHS and wallah! It picked right up and started backing up. Great job!!

  • Sync in need

    I need an backup-sync-addin for my shared folders!!!
    If WHS is the ultimate MEDIA-server / BACKUP-server … WHY isn't there a sync tool for the shared folders???
    Let me give you an example:
    - people store photos and rip videos, NOT directly on the server but on a decent desktop because converting videos etc is something you don't want to do over the network (ie editing the video on the desktop when it's stored on the server)
    - thus I (and a lot of people) have my 1.1TB with videos, photos, music stored on a desktop and backuped on the WHS … BUT I want the stream everything from the server also which means I put them in the shared folders … right!?
    Here's the PROBLEM:
    Today the WHS CANNOT?? backup/sync the photos etc. that I every week download to my desktop … WHY!?!?!??

    • Cavediver

      You can use Synctoy on your pc to sync the data on your pc to the WHS shares.

      • Sync in need

        Yes I'm trying out a couple of sync tools … but still, why isn't this included in WHS? Is it only me thinking this is really strange!?

  • skelzer

    I'd wait until new SyncToy 2.1 comes out to avoid any corruption…

  • Derausgewanderte

    I totally agree with you Sync in need. I am currently using SyncBack by 2Bright Stars. I've tried synctool before but wasn't happy with it. It would be so cool to have this implemented into WHS.

    • Sync in need

      I've also installed Syncback but cannot get it to run scheduled!? :-(
      But if I start it myself it does the job. Would it be better to run it from the server, I'm now running it from the desktop.

  • Keep it simple

    Off toptic but what the hell.

    Want to make changes to a large (video) file on the WHS? Fine. Copy it to the desktop of the client and then copy it back once you`ve finished working on it. Simple.

    Much less complex and much less risk than having 2 copies of the truth and syncing them.

  • Sync in need

    Simple … I don't think that's simple.
    I built a nice, quiet and powerful desktop were everything (2TBs) is organized on 5 harddisks. Why should I put documents x2 only on the server and everytime need to swap it back and forth?? Nothing is duplicated on my server, it's just for backup and media files … and if something is modified, I ONLY do it on the desktop/laptops thus no problems with 'one-way-sync/backup'!
    "Keep it simple" – do you think I'm the only one organizing/backing up my stuff like this?

    • Keep it simple

      No, I`m sure many WHS users sync 2 versions of the truth.

      I would have thought that the only files you need to copy down to a client before editing are VERY large files. Even that may not be necessary with gigabit ethernet (if wired is possible in your installation). You certainly would not copy a 1MB word document to your client to edit it – but you would copy a 5GB AVI down to the client to edit it.

      Sounds like your requirements are rather different though – although you havent described how they are different?

      I guarantee you`ll lose files (or versions of files), if you use a sync tool for long enough. And god help you if you have to rebuild your server and do a sync after that….

    • would be nice…

      Yes it would be nice to have sync from whs. But for example, in my case I wouldn't really need it yet since my goal with whs has been really not to keep any files on my laptops, desktops, etc. I want ALL data on the SERVER. and then just make sure that I also have an off-site backup strategy for the WHOLE server. And for my faster desktop it is wired to my gigabit router, some laptops via n and other via g. Off course, yesterday I ripped a dvd to the server and it took me a bit to figure out while it was taking a while hehehe (the laptop in case was using G, versus what I usually do when working with big files which is connect latop via gigabit ethernet..)

      PS. 3 laptops, two desktops, 3 users, lots of files in different pcs… It was a BIG mess!!! Yes the whs CENTERED all…

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