Windows Server Backup Command Reference

The following subcommands for wbadmin provide backup and recovery functionality from a command prompt.

To configure a backup schedule, you must be a member of the Administrators group. To perform all other tasks with this command, you must be a member of the Backup Operators or the Administrators group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate permissions.

You must run wbadmin from an elevated command prompt. (To open an elevated command prompt, click Start, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.)

Subcommand	Description
Wbadmin enable backup	Configures and enables a daily backup schedule. This subcommand applies only to Windows Server 2008.
Wbadmin disable backup	Disables your daily backups. This subcommand applies only to Windows Server 2008.
Wbadmin start backup	Runs a one-time backup. If used with no parameters, uses the settings from the daily backup schedule.
Wbadmin stop job	Stops the currently running backup or recovery operation.
Wbadmin get versions	Lists details of backups recoverable from the local computer or, if another location is specified, from another computer.
Wbadmin get items	Lists the items included in a specific backup.
Wbadmin start recovery	Runs a recovery of the volumes, applications, files, or folders specified. This subcommand applies only to Windows Server 2008.
Wbadmin get status	Shows the status of the currently running backup or recovery operation.
Wbadmin get disks	Lists disks that are currently online. This subcommand applies only to Windows Server 2008.
Wbadmin start systemstaterecovery	Runs a system state recovery. This subcommand applies only to Windows Server 2008.
Wbadmin start systemstatebackup	Runs a system state backup. This subcommand applies only to Windows Server 2008.
Wbadmin delete systemstatebackup	Deletes one or more system state backups. This subcommand applies only to Windows Server 2008.
Wbadmin start sysrecovery	Runs a recovery of the full system (at least all the volumes that contain the operating system's state). This subcommand applies only to Windows Server 2008, and it is only available if you are using the Windows Recovery Environment.
Wbadmin restore catalog	Recovers a backup catalog from a specified storage location in the case where the backup catalog on the local computer has been corrupted. This subcommand applies only to Windows Server 2008.
Wbadmin delete catalog	Deletes the backup catalog on the local computer. Use this command only if the backup catalog on this computer is corrupted and you have no backups stored at another location that you can use to restore the catalog. This subcommand applies only to Windows Server 2008.