How to Back up a Windows File Server to a Synology NAS.
If you have a Windows file server and a Synology NAS and want to back up the file server data to the Synology NAS, then this guide is for you.
Backing up your Windows file server is one of the most important tasks to protect against data loss, ransomware, or hardware failure. However, while there are several ways* to do this task, one of the most reliable and cost-effective solutions for backing up your file server data if you have a Synology NAS is the Active Backup for Business free-tool provided by Synology.
* Related articles:
- How to Backup Active Directory Server 2016/2012 with Windows Server Backup.
- How to Use Veeam Backup Agent Free to Back up a Windows Server or Windows 10/11.
In this step-by-step guide, we'll show you exactly how to configure automated, secure backups of your Windows file server to your Synology NAS, with the Synology's 'Active Backup for Business' backup utility.
How to Use Synology Active Backup for Business to Back up the Shared Files from a Windows File Server to a Synology NAS. *
* Note: This guide applies to any file server running Windows Server 2022/2019/2016 or Windows 10/11 OS.
Step 1. Install Active Backup for Business on Synology NAS.
1. Open the Package Center and install Active Backup for Business (ABB).
2. After installation open Active Backup for Business.
3. Now click Activate to activate the product using your Synology Account.
4. Accept the Privacy Statement and then use your Synology Account credentials to activate the Active Backup for Business package.
5. Once the package is activated click OK and proceed to next step to configure the backup of your File Server.
Step 2. Backup File Server to Synology NAS with Synology's Active Backup for Business.
To backup the shared files/folders from your Windows File Server to the Synology NAS with ABB.
1. In Synology's DSM, open Active Backup for Business, select File Server and then click Add Server.
2. As Server type choose SMB server and click Next.
3. On the next screen, enter the IP address of the file server and below enter the credentials of a user account* with sufficient permissions to read the shared files on the that server. Click Done to proceed.
* Note: If you want to backup a Windows Server or a Workstation that belongs to an active directory domain, type the account name as" DOMAINNAME\Username".
4. After adding the file server successfully, click Yes to create a backup task for it.
5. On the 'Backup Mode' screen, select the type of the backup you want to perform, depending on your needs (e.g. "Multi-versioned" in this example).*
* Note: Among the 3 types of backup (Multi-versioned, Mirroring, and Incremental), the safest in my opinion is the "Multi-versioned" one and the most insecure the "Mirroring" because if all files on the file server are deleted or corrupted (e.g. due to ransomware), the files on the Synology will also be deleted.
6. On the 'Backup source' screen select the shared folders that you want to include on the backup and click Next.
7. In the Task Settings, do the following:
a. Type a name for the backup task and then click Browse.
b. Now choose where to save the backup (e.g. under the "ActiveBackupforBusiness" folder) and then click Create Folder to create a new folder for it. When done, click Select.
c. Finally, and if you want to do it now, select Enable Schedule to customize the backup schedule and click Next.
8. On the 'Select Retention Policy' screen select how many versions of the backups to keep (e.g. 7 versions), or select the "Advanced retention policy" option and set your own rules. When done, click Next to continue.
9. On the 'Task summary' screen, click Done and then Yes if you want to take the first backup of the File Server immediately.
How to Restore Files from Synology NAS Back to the File Server.
1. In "Active Backup for Business" panel select File Server, and then in "File Servers" tab open the Recovery Portal.
2. Now, if you have multiple backup versions, select at the bottom of this window the backup version (date) you want to restore files from, then locate and select the folders/files you want to restore. When you're done, click the Restore button.
3. Finally, read carefully the restore process details and if you agree, click OK to restore the selected files back to the file server.
That's it! Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
