The backup creation time depends on the Active Directory database size (NTDS.dit file) and the compression method Backup Agent uses when processing NTDS.dit. You can specify the compression method on the Performance tab in the Computer Collection Properties dialog box. For more information, refer to the User Guide supplied with this release of RMAD.
The following table illustrates the typical backup creation times for different compression methods. This table has been obtained for the following configuration:
The NTDS.dit file size: 3.14 GB
The RMAD computer hardware: CPU 2x Intel® Xeon® 2.8 Hz; RAM 1 GB
| Compression method | Backup file size | Backup creation time (min:sec) |
|---|---|---|
| None | 3.17 GB | 09:07 |
| Fast | 1.27 GB | 07:35 |
| Normal | 1.22 GB | 08:27 |
| Maximum | 1.2 GB | 17:54 |
The backup creation times for your Active Directory® database may vary based on size of the database and a number of other factors including the hardware on the domain controller and how densely the Active Directory® database is populated. You can use the examples above as a guide in determining how long it will take to backup your own Active Directory® database, but keep in mind that these times are not directly related to the size of the database (i.e. a 6 GB database may not take exactly twice as long to backup as a 3 GB database). The best way to determine what to expect for backup times in your own environment is to create a backup of a production domain controller.
Compression ratios can vary depending on how densely populated the Active Directory® database is, but typically using a higher compression method has diminishing returns in terms of the final compressed size of the backup. To ensure both a reasonable backup time and a reasonable compressed backup size it is recommended to use either Fast or Normal compression.
Before using a packed backup file (e.g. in the Online Restore Wizard), RMAD must unpack it.
The following table illustrates the typical times required to unpack backups.
| Note |
You can manage the creation of the unpacked backups using the Unpacked Backups tab in the Recovery Manager for Active Directory Settings dialog box. You can also have the Online Restore Wizard or Group Policy Restore Wizard keep unpacked backups for future use. For more information, refer to the User Guide supplied with this release. |
Typical times to unpack backups
| Compression method | Packed backup file size | Backup unpacking time (min:sec) |
|---|---|---|
| None | 3.17 GB | 01:57 |
| Fast | 1.27 GB | 01:29 |
| Normal | 1.22 GB | 01:25 |
| Maximum | 1.2 GB | 01:22 |
Recovery Manager for Active Directory employs the following database files (.mdb):
Rmad.db3. RMAD configuration database. It contains information on the console configuration, such as the managed Computer Collections, backup creation sessions, etc.
Backups.mdb. RMAD backup registration database. It contains information on the registered Active Directory and AD LDS (ADAM) backups.
As a rule, the file size for .mdb files does not exceed 10 MB.
| Note |
The database files are stored in the folder %AllUsersProfile%\Quest\Recovery Manager for Active Directory. |
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