Command Line NTBackup Won't Backup Files Using UNC Naming (104081)

SUMMARY

Windows NT Backup (NTBACKUP.EXE) does not support uniform naming convention (UNC) naming for paths. For example, when issuing the command

   ntbackup backup \\server1\share\<dirname>

Windows NT Backup will not backup any files in the specified directory, even though files exist in the directory (\<dirname>).

MORE INFORMATION

This might be an issue for someone (such as a network administrator) who wants to make nightly backups using the AT command (which schedules programs to run on a computer at a specified time and date).

For example, you may want to issue the following command

   AT 3:30am backup.bat

where the contents of the BACKUP.BAT file are the following:

   ntbackup backup \\server1\share\sys

When you are using UNC naming conventions, you can avoid mapping a drive letter to a network resource; however, Windows NT Backup does not support UNC naming.

In the above example, then, the correct contents for the BACKUP.BAT is the following:

   rem Disconnect the current network resource if it exists.
   net use o: /d
   rem Connect to the correct network resource for the backup.
   net use o: \\server1\share
   rem Run the backup to the network resource.
   ntbackup backup o:\sys
   rem Disconnect the current network resource.
   net use o: /d