Nero NBCMD user Manual

Manual

NBCmd

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NBCmd

Table of contents

1 Start Successfully 4

1.1 About NBCmc 4

1.2 Working with NBCmd 4

1.3 Requirements and Recommendations 4

1.4 Convention 4

2 Launching NBCmd 5

2.1 Using NBCmd 5

3 Backup 6

3.1 File Backup 6

3.2 Drive Backup 6

3.2.1 Backup Parameter Description 7

3.2.2 Examples 9

4 Restore 11

4.1 Restore Parameter Description 11

4.2 Examples 12

Table of contents

5 Add FTP 13
6 Create bootable disc 14
7 Disc commands 15
8 Display commands 16
9 Glossary 17
10 Contact 19

NBCmd

III

1 Start Successfully

1.1 About NBCmc

NBCmd is a console application that enables Nero BackItUp to accept, interpret and execute
commands via command line interface. NBCmd not only provides the basic functionality for
creating and restoring file and drive backups but also facilitates the user by providing additi­onal options settable for support of all operations which BackItUp is capable of.
This document will provide a comprehensive list of available options for NBCmd and
examples of use. NBCmd can perform the following tasks:

File backup



Drive backup



Restore of file and drive backups



Start Successfully

1.2 Work

1.3 Requ

ing with NBCmd

This application provides the functionality for creating and restoring file and drive backups.
NBCmd provides the support of a variety of different media type like FTP, hard drive and op
tical disc for backup and restore operations. So some additional media supporte
like disc erasing, disc ejecting, FTP configuration are also included in NBCmd.
NBCmd will be
tUp manual.

Settings who are m
other way around.

irements and Recommendations

NBCmd will work on any platform which is fit for hosting Ne
needs to be installed and licensed
NBCmd will not work with Linux.

Please refer also to the Silent Installation Manual.

1.4 Convention

< >
[ ]

Place ho
optional

-

d features

installed with Nero BackItUp. For further information refer to the Nero BackI-

ade in the Nero BackItUp options are default values in NBCmd and the

ro BackItUP. Nero BackItUp

prior to using NBCmd.

lder

NBCmd

4

2 Launching NBCmd

To launch NBCmd, proceed as follows:

1. Open a command shell.

2. Change to the drive and directory where NBCmd.exe is installed on your hard drive:

For example, NBCmd.exe is installed in the default path E:\NBCmd\:
Type E: and press Enter
Type cd NBCmd and press Enter

Î You are now ready to use NBCmd.

2.1 Using NBCmd

To use NBCmd is easy. After launching NBCmd, you can execute all the commands which
are described in this manual.
NBCmd must be typed before a command. The commands and parameters itself must be
typed in the following order: two hyphens and then the command/parameter without a blank
between the single lines and the command/parameter.

Launching NBCmd

NBCmd

5

3 Backup

3.1 File Backup

You can back up files with NBCmd. You can burn the backup to a disc or hard drive. It is al­so possible to save on an FTP server.
A file backup is useful to protect against data loss that can occur due to hardware damage or
force majeure (fire, etc.). Consequently we recommend executing frequent file backups so
that, should such an event occur, data that is as current as possible can be restored.

Command line:

--filebackup

--sourcepath <sourcepath1, sourcepath2, … sourcepathn>

--location <location>
[--output_folder <output folder>]
[--backuptype <update/differential/incremental>

--source_backup <source backup>]
[--shadowcopy <0/1>]

--backupname <backupname>
[--verify <0/1>]
[--password <password> --encrypt_type <standard/aes>]
[--compress <low/middle/high>]
[--comments <comments>]
[--log_file <log_file>]

Backup

3.2 Drive Backup

You can take backup of single drive partition, multiple drive partitions or complete drives.
with NBCmd. In contrast to the file backup, the drive backup restores programs and opera­ting systems when restoring.
You can burn the backup to a disc or save it to a hard drive. It is also possible to save the
backup to an FTP server.

When you back up a drive, the backup file is usually quite large. If you burn the backup to
disc, you will usually require multiple discs. The first backup disc is always a bootable disc. If
you do not burn the backup to disc, it is still quite useful to create a bootable disc so that you
can start the computer (and the drive restore) from CD/DVD in the event of an emergency.

NBCmd

6

Command line:

--drivebackup

--sourceharddisknumber <sourceharddisknumber>
[--sourcepartitionnumber <0,1,2 … n>]

--location <location>
[--output_folder <output folder>]

--backupname <backupname>
[--verify <0/1>]
[--password <password> --encrypt_type <standard/aes>]
[--compress <low/middle/high>]
[--comments <comments>]
[--log_file <log_file>]

3.2.1 Backup Parameter Description

Backup

--sourcepath <sourcepath1, path2, … pathn>

Definies the path of the source <path1,path2,…pathn> (only file backup).
Example:



--sourcepath D:\Data,C:\MyData



(for single source path) --sourcepath D:\Data

(for multiple

source path)

--sourceharddisknumber <sourceharddisknumber>

Displays di
Example:

--sourceharddisknumber 1



sk number (only drive backup).

[--sourcepartitionnumber <0,1,2 … n>]

Chooses th
Example:

–-sourcepartitionnumber 0,3



e partion or partitions to be backed up (only drive backup).

--location <location>

NBCmd

Defines the backup location index for the b
can be rea

dout with --listlocations.

ackup. The location index of the choosen target

7

Example:

Backup

--location H:\ (for local hard disk locatio



--location MyFtp (for FTP locat



ion)

n)

[--output_folder <output folder>]

Defines the
Example:

--output_folder Backup (simple path)



--output_folder Backup\MyFileBackups



folder path on target. The path can be nested path of the folder on the target.

[--backuptype <update/differential/incremental>

--source_backup <source backup>]

Defines the backup type and gives the complete backup source fild path (only file back
incremental. all files that have changed in comparison to the last backup will be saved.
differential: all files that have changed in comparison to the first backup will be saved.
The procedure for update varies depending on the medium to w
If you are backing up to a hard drive with the update type, then the data of the previous
backup will be overwritten with the changed data. This means that older versions will be era ­sed; access to older backup states w
If you are backing up to the disc on which the last backup was burned with the update type,
then the procedure is the same as described for the incremental backup.
will be generated in
If you are b
described for the full backup. The full backup will be burned on the disc.

acking up to a new disc with the update type, then the procedure is the same as

a new session.

ill no longer be possible.

hich you will back up.

In this case a folder

up).

NBCmd

Example:

--backuptype <update> --source_backup H:\MyBackup.nbi



[--shadowcopy <0/1>]

Enables shadow copy for backup: sh
Thus files can also be backed up that are currently being worked on (only for file

--backupn

Chooses an name for the backup. Date and time are added automatically.
Example:

--backupnam



data and time: ‘20081213_104312_MyBackup.nbi’)

ame <backupname>

e MyBackup (The backup created on the location will be appended by

adow copies of the files will be created before backup.

backup).

8

Backup

[--verify <0/1>]

Verifies, if the backup was succesful after backup process. If you want to verify the backup
process give ‘1’ as an argument.

Example:

--verify 1



[--password <password> --encrypt_type]

Defines a password for the encryption an
on password. Password is optional but once you give a password you may give its encryp­tion type. By default the encryption type
you are required to provide the correct password.
Note: Be careful while setting a password and remember it be
backup if you forgot your password.

d the encryption type. Encryption type is dependent

is AES . Whenever you want to restore the backup

cause you cannot open a

[--compress <low/middle/high>]

Compresses the backuped data and chooses compress rate. A higher compress rate will re
sult in lower file size, but the backu

p process will last longer.

[--comments <comments>]

Gives backup

-

[- log_file <log file>]

Complete file p
path to save the

Example:

--log_file D:\MyLogFile.txt



comments

ath for the logfile. Log file is saved in text format and you can set the custom

file.

3.2.2 Examples

The following command creates a full file backup named “MyBackup” consisting files and
folders located in directory “D:\Data” at the target directory:

NBCmd --filebackup --sourcepath D:\Data --location H

--output_folder Backup --backupname MyBackup

or creating an

F

--backuptype parameter values should be defined, like following command will create an
incremental backup of an existing backup:

NBCmd --filebackup --source_backup H:\MyBackup.nba

--backuptype incremental --location H:\ --output_folder Backup

--backupname MyIncBackup

NBCmd

update backup of

:\

an existing backup --backup-source and

9

Backup

Following command will create a

complete drive backup named MyFullDriveBackup of se-

lected hard drive:

NBCmd --drivebackup --sourceharddisknumber 1 -- location D:\

-- output_folder Backup --backup

name MyFullDriveBackup

To create a drive backup of a selected partition parameters can be specified as follows:

NBCmd --drivebackup --sourceharddisknumber 1
–-sourcepartitionnumber 0 -- location D:\ --output_folder Backup

--backupname MyPartitionBackup

NBCmd

10

4 Restore

NBCmd can be used to restore a backup. The backup can be restored to the so urce folder or
selected folders.

Command line:

--restore

--location <location>

--source_backup <source backup>
[--sourcepartitionnumber <sourcepartitionnumber>]
[--targetharddisknumber <targetharddisknumber>

--targetpartitionnumber <targetpartitionnumber>

--targetstartsector <targetstartsector>]
[--fit <source/target>]
[--verify <0/1>]
[--password <password>]
[--originalpath / --custompath <custompath>]
[--log_file <log_file>]

Restore

4.1 Restore Parameter Description

--location <location>

Is the backup location.
Example:

--location H



--source_backup

Is the complete backup source file path. Note: file backups have the extension NBA and
drive backups have the extension NDA.

Example:

--source_backup Backup\MyBackup.nba



[--sourcepartitionnumber]

Is the partition number at source.

NBCmd

11

Restore

[--targetharddisknumber <targetdisknumber>

--targetpartitionnumber <targetpartitionnumber>

--targetstartsector <targetstartsector>

Defines, where the backup is to restore with target disk number, partition number, and target
sector.

[--fit <source/target>]

Specifies whether the restore will be fitted to the target or source size. If the target partition
and backed up partition are the same size, the options provide the same result. There are
differences if the target partition is larger than the backed up partition. Only for restoring
drive backup!

--fit source: The size of the target partition is reduced to the size of the backed up parti­tion. Partition storage space no longer needed is no longer part of the partition. You can re­partition this unused storage space as needed.

--fit target: The size of the target partition remains intact. The storage space not nee­ded for the restore becomes empty space but remains part of the partition.

[--verify <0/1>]

Verifies, if the restore was successful.

[--password <password>]

Decrypt an encrypted backup. If a password was entered while taking file or drive backup
then during restoring the same, you must provide the password.

[--originalpath / --custompath <custompath>]

Restore backup on original path or on selected path as specified.

4.2 Examples

The following command with the specified parameter set will restore a file backup.

NBCmd --restore --location H --source_backup Backup\MyBackup.nba

--originalpath

To restore a drive backup of a partition, parameters can be specified as follows:

NBCmd --restore --location D:\

--source_backup Backup\MyPartitionBackup.nda

--sourcepartitionnumber 1 --targetharddisknumber 0

--targetpartitionnumber 4 --fit target

NBCmd

12

5 Add FTP

With this command FTP connections can be established which can be used as source and
target for various backup and restore operations.

Command line:

--ftp

--name <name>

--address <address>

--user <user>

--password <password/anonymous>

--name <name>

Is the host name which serves as an internal name for the remote site

Add FTP

--address <address>

Is the host address which is the url of the remote site

--user <user>

Is your login name

--password <password/anonymous>

Is the password for the connection

NBCmd

13

6 Create bootable disc

With this command you can create a bootable disc with Nero BackItUp Image Tool.
With the ImageTool, you can back up and restore drives. This particularly lends itself to ba­cking up on otherwise active drives, since such drives are inactive when bootin g the Nero
BackItUp ImageTool.

You can find more information about this and about working with the Nero Ba­ckItUp ImageTool in the Nero BackItUp manual under

Command line:

--createbootabledisc

--location <location>

Create bootable disc

www.nero.com/.

NBCmd

14

7 Disc commands

With NBCmd you can load and eject your disc. Rewritable discs can be era se d.
The following disc commands are available

Disc commands

--load --drivename
<drivename>

--eject --drivename
<drivename

--erase --drivename
<drivename --mode
<full/quick>

This command loads a media into an optical
disc drive.

This command ejects the inserted disk.

This command erases the rewritable media.

--drivename <drivename>

Is either the "full name" of the drive or the drive letters

--mode <full/quick>

Chooses a erase method.
Full erasing removes the data from the disc by overwriting it with zeroes. The contents can­not be restored with conventional methods. Repeated full erasing increases the probability
that third parties will not be able to reconstruct the contents.
Quick erasing does not remove the data physically from the disc, but instead only makes it
inaccessible by erasing the references to existing content. The data can be restored!

NBCmd

15

8 Display commands

The following display commands are available:

Display commands

--help OR /?

--listlocations

--listharddrives

--discinfo

--drivename
<drivename>

--backupproperties

--location
<location>

--source_backup
<source backup>

Displays list of all available features in NBCmd.
Displays list of different target media with names

and their full paths. You need the index of the
location, when you choose a backup target.

Display the list of drives with their file system,
disk number, and Partition number and start
sector of the disk.

Displays the disc info with type, start, stop,
length, session number.

Displays the information (like Erase Modes, Me­dium Flags, Total Capacity etc) of the inserted
media.

Displays various properties of file backups and
drive backups like full backup name, backup
set, backup name, backup type, user name,
backup size, compress size, backup date, num­ber of files, folders etc.

NBCmd

16

9 Glossary

AES Encryption

The Advanced Encryption Standard uses symmetrical encryption with key lengths of 128,
192, and 256 bits. With it, sensitive data is protected from unauthorized access.

Archive Bit

Archive bits are used to identify files that have been edited. A file is only resaved during the
next backup process if it was edited (and an archive bit is thus reset).

Backup

Copying data from the computer to an alternative storage medium. Backups are created in a
special format with the help of a backup program.

Backup Set

A backup set consists of individual backups that belong together - a complete backup and a
differential backup extension, or a complete backup and one or more incremental backup
extensions.

Bootable CD

Booting refers to loading the operating system when a computer is started. This is normally
done from the hard drive. However, if you do not want to boot or cannot boot your computer
from your hard drive for whatever reason, you can load an operating environment from the
drive with a boot CD.

Glossary

Classic Encryption

Classic encryption is the predecessor of AES encryption. It uses a symmetrical encryption
algorithm as well. The key length is 56 bits.

CRC

Cyclic Redundance Check refers to an error-detection procedure used during the transmis­sion or copying of data. A checksum is calculated with a defined amount of data at the be­ginning, and provided with the data block. After the operation has ended, the checksum is
calculated again and compared to the first value. Deviations indicate the presence of errors.

Differential Backup

Differential backup refers to a type of backup update / backup extension. Only data that has
been modified or added since the first full backup is backed up.

Drive

General term for a storage device with read, and possibly write, capabilities that is located
outside RAM. Drives are e.g. physical drives (hard drives), logical drives (partitions), or opti­cal drives (CD/DVD drives).

NBCmd

17

Glossary

FTP Server

An FTP server is a data storage unit that can be accessed through the Internet. Access is
usually anonymous. FTP servers are frequently used as storage locations for backups.

Hard Drive

A hard drive is a physical drive that writes binary data on a rotating magnetic disk. The hard
drive can be installed in the computer or be connected to the computer as a so-called exter­nal hard drive.

Incremental Backup

Incremental backup refers to a type of backup update / backup extension. Only data that has
been modified or added since the last backup - the first full backup or an earlier incremental
backup - is backed up. The reason why this type of backup extension is called incremental
backup is that several incremental backups are usually added to a full backup.

Master Boot Record MBR

The Master Boot Record (MBR) is located in the hard drive's first sector. It contains a boot
file that starts the operating system. It also defines the drive's partitioning.

Multisession Disc

A multisession disc can contain several sessions that are not fixed. This way, more data can
be added in new sessions at a later point in time, and the disc is not closed until it is full.

NTFS

New Technology File System is a Windows file system. Its advantages include differentiated
access and rights management, as well as defragmented data storage, which allows the
processing speed to remain high.

Partition

A partition is a section of the hard drive. A hard drive can be divided into several partitions
that can work independently of each other, as if they were separate drives. Because of this,
partitions are also called "logical" drives.

Restore

Restore stands for restoring data to a previous condition or to copying data by using a back­up copy that was created previously and a backup program, e.g. Nero BackItUp.

Shadow Copy

A shadow copy is a snapshot of a file at a certain point in time. The advantage is that you
can keep working with this file while the backup program, e.g. Nero BackItUp, backs up the
file in the background. This feature is particularly relevant when you want to save system fi­les, which are modified continuously by the system.

NBCmd

18

10 Contact

NBCmd and Nero BackItUp are Nero AG products.

Contact

Nero AG

Im Stoeckmaedle 13-15
76307 Karlsbad
Germany

Nero Inc.

330 N Brand Blvd Suite 800
Glendale, CA 91203-2335
USA

Nero KK

Rover Center-kita 8F-B, 1-2-2
Nakagawa-chuou Tsuzuki-ku

Yokohama, Kanagawa
Japan 224-0003

Web:
Help:
Fax:

Web:
Help:
Fax:
E-mail:

Web:

Help:

www.nero.com
http://support.nero.com

[phone]

www.nero.com
http://support.nero.com

[phone]

[e-mail]

www.nero.com

http://support.nero.com

NBCmd

Copyright © 2008 Nero AG and its licensors. All rights reserved.

19