I’ve been using Windows Server Backup in Windows Server 2008 R2 for almost a month, and found it can do everything Acronis True Image Server does, seemed there is really no need to buy AIS in the future in my own opinion.

See what WSB can offer you (my requirement list):

• WSB works at Bloack Level, so backup or taking snapshot is very fast during backup and restore as well.
• Full server baremetal backup.
• Full backup at first time, and incremental afterwards, Excluding files during backup, Compression
• System State integrated with AD, so you won’t get a crash consistant state that you have your server restored, but found AD cannot be started.
• Individual folder/file restore
• Backup to network shared folders (there is a limit that you cannot have incremental copies, but only keep ONE copy, the later one will over-write the previous one), this does suck badly! However I don’t use network folder to store my backup, so it’s fine for me.
• Maximum 64 copies (in my term, it’s almost 2 months since I only have 1 schedule backup running) or limited to your backup disk size
• The backup copies are hidden from the file system, in TIS, you need to create a partition to hide the backup copies. (Acronis Secure Zone)
• WSB can backup Hyper-V vm images as well.

Best of all Windows Server Backup (WSB) in Windows Server 2008 R2 IS FREE! TIS is over USD1,200, I don’t need any features like Convert to VM, Universal Restore, Central Management, so WSB works perfectly for the standalone server.

Finally, you may ask what about the rescure bootable DVD/CD-ROM? While you don’t have one, what? Yes, the Windows Server 2008 DVD is your optimate rescure bootable DVD, fair enough?