How to Create a Backup Script using ROBOCOPY Command
Information
There are many paid and free software solutions available to backup critical data and files on a computer system. Many users, however, are unaware of an inbuilt Windows 7 command called ROBOCOPY (Robust File Copy) that allows users to create simple or highly advanced backup strategies.
In its simplist form, ROBOCOPY can be likened to an extension of XCOPY on steroids. Some of the more important features that make ROBOCOPY an attractive backup alternative are:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc733145(WS.10).aspx
and also here:
http://www.theether.net/download/Microsoft/Utilities/robocopy.pdf
or by simply typing robocopy /? at a cmd window prompt.
In its simplist form, ROBOCOPY can be likened to an extension of XCOPY on steroids. Some of the more important features that make ROBOCOPY an attractive backup alternative are:
- multi-threaded copying
- mirroring or synchronisation mode between the destination and source
- automatic retry and copy resumption
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc733145(WS.10).aspx
and also here:
http://www.theether.net/download/Microsoft/Utilities/robocopy.pdf
or by simply typing robocopy /? at a cmd window prompt.
Note
ROBOCOPY is a FOLDER copier, not a FILE copier - the source and destination syntax arguments in ROBOCOPY can only be folder names.
:note: Creating a BACKUP strategy
The easiest way to use the ROBOCOPY command to create a backup strategy is by creating a batch (.BAT) file. A batch file is a simple text file, that when executed, runs several commands one after the other.
Step 1
Click
rb: and in the search box, type notepad. Select Notepad to open up a new blank Notepad document.Step 2
Type the ROBOCOPY commands into the Notepad document, save it as a .BAT file, and then execute it.
In the example below, I have 3 folders (Data1, Data2, and Data3) containing some data that I wish to backup. One folder is located on E: drive and the other two are located on F: drive. I wish to back these up as follows:
Data1 folder on E: backup to a folder called Backups on G: (external USB drive)
Data2 folder on F: backup to a folder called Backups on G: (external USB drive)
Data3 folder on F: backup to a folder called Backups on Q: (network storage drive)
The general format of the ROBOCOPY command is:
Code:
robocopy <source> <destination> <options>
Code:
robocopy E:\Data1 G:\Backups\Data1
robocopy F:\Data2 G:\Backups\Data2
robocopy F:\Data3 Q:\Backups\Data3
pause
Tip
If source or destination paths contain spaces in them, enclose these in double quotes e.g. "C:\My Data\My Music"
Only the source
- E:\Data1
- F:\Data2
- F:\Data3
- G:\Backups\Data1
- G:\Backups\Data2
- Q:\Backups\Data3
Tip
The PAUSE command at the bottom of the .BAT file allows the cmd window to stay open after it has completed to allow me to see the output from ROBOCOPY.
If I save the .BAT file to my Desktop, and run it by double-clicking it, then a cmd window is opened and the .BAT file executes the three ROBOCOPY commands as shown below.
The same information is repeated for every ROBOCOPY line in the .BAT file.
In order to utilise some of the powerful functionality in ROBOCOPY, I need to utilise some options in the ROBOCOPY command line. In this next example I want to edit my existing backup strategy such that:
- All sub-folders within my data folders are backed up, even if they are empty.
- The backup only copies newer files to my existing backup - this means a faster backup time.
- The percentage progress counter for copying is not shown - this neatens the overall appearance of the ROBOCOPY information, and creates a smaller log file.
- The information normally echoed to the cmd window is saved to a log file that I can examine at a later stage.
Code:
robocopy E:\Data1 G:\Backups\Data1 [B][COLOR=red]/e /mir /np /log:backup_log.txt[/COLOR][/B]
robocopy F:\Data2 G:\Backups\Data2 [B][COLOR=red]/e /mir /np /log+:backup_log.txt[/COLOR][/B]
robocopy F:\Data3 Q:\Backups\Data3 [B][COLOR=red]/e /mir /np /log+:backup_log.txt[/COLOR][/B]
pause/e = copy all sub-folders, even empty ones
/mir = mirror (check the files in the destination, and only copy newer files)
/np = no progress counter
/log: = create a logfile
Tip
Note the use of the /log+: option in the 2nd and 3rd line of the .BAT file. This option ensures that the results of the 2nd and 3rd ROBOCOPY are appended to the log file created in the 1st ROBOCOPY line, meaning I only need one log file to capture all the information I backup.
The log file is always saved to the same folder as the .BAT file - in my case, the folder is saved to my Desktop.
Since the output from ROBOCOPY is written to the log file, the cmd window will not display the output from ROBOCOPY. If I wish to have this information written to both the log file and the cmd window for visual tracking of the backup process, then I can add the /tee option to each line in the .BAT file, as shown below.
Code:
robocopy E:\Data1 G:\Backups\Data1 /e /mir /np [B][COLOR=red]/te[/COLOR][COLOR=red]e[/COLOR][/B] /log:backup_log.txt
robocopy F:\Data2 G:\Backups\Data2 /e /mir /np [COLOR=red][B]/tee[/B][/COLOR] /log+:backup_log.txt
robocopy F:\Data3 Q:\Backups\Data3 /e /mir /np[COLOR=red][B] /tee[/B][/COLOR] /log+:backup_log.txt
pause
Code:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROBOCOPY :: Robust File Copy for Windows
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Started : Sun Sep 18 23:35:01 2011
Source : E:\Data1\
Dest : G:\Backups\Data1\
Files : *.*
Options : *.* /S /E /COPY:DAT /PURGE /MIR /R:1000000 /W:30
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 E:\Data1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Copied Skipped Mismatch FAILED Extras
Dirs : 1 0 1 0 0 0
Files : 2 0 2 0 0 0
Bytes : 442.1 k 0 442.1 k 0 0 0
Times : 0:00:00 0:00:00 0:00:00 0:00:00
Ended : Sun Sep 18 23:35:01 2011
Code:
robocopy E:\Data1 G:\Backups\Data1 /e /mir /np /tee /log:backup_log.txt
robocopy F:\Data2 G:\Backups\Data2 /e /mir /np /tee /log+:backup_log.txt
robocopy F:\Data3 Q:\Backups\Data3 /e /mir /np [B][COLOR=red]/z[/COLOR][/B] /tee /log+:backup_log.txtROBOCOPY also has the ability to perform faster multi-threaded copying by simply using the option /mt. I can choose the number of threads to use by specifying a number between 1 and 128 after the /mt option, or if I just specify /mt without a number then the it will use 8 threads by default. In the example below, I use 4 threads to copy to my USB drive, and 8 threads (no number) to copy to my network drive.
Code:
robocopy E:\Data1 G:\Backups\Data1 /e /mir /np /tee [B][COLOR=red]/mt:4[/COLOR][/B] /log:backup_log.txt
robocopy F:\Data2 G:\Backups\Data2 /e /mir /np /tee [COLOR=red][B]/mt:4[/B][/COLOR] /log+:backup_log.txt
robocopy F:\Data3 Q:\Backups\Data3 /e /mir /np [COLOR=black]/z[/COLOR] /tee [COLOR=red][B]/mt[/B][/COLOR] /log+:backup_log.txt
Code:
rem --- Edit the lines below to create your own backup strategy
rem --- The /mir option has been left out for safety sake
rem --- Add more lines for each new folder requiring backup
rem --- Specified 4 threads to use for multi-threaded copying
rem --- The results of the backup can be found in my_backup_log.txt
robocopy <source> <destination> /e /np /tee /mt:4 /log:my_backup_log.txt
robocopy <source> <destination> /e /np /tee /mt:4 /log+:my_backup_log.txt
robocopy <source> <destination> /e /np /tee /mt:4 /log+:my_backup_log.txt
pause
Tip
The can automate your backup's by using the Windows 7 Task Scheduler to run the .BAT file at specific times.
For more information please refer to this tutorial by Orbital Shark:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/12444-task-scheduler-create-new-task.html
I hope this brief tutorial helps you access the power and simplicity of ROBOCOPY to create some effective backup strategies.
Regards,
Golden
Last edited by a moderator:
