[This is preliminary documentation and subject to change]

# Backing Up the Metabase

IIS provides three methods to back up the metabase. Using Configuration Backup/Restore, you can create a secure backup or insecure backup of your metabase. With the new functionality to Configuration Backup/Restore in the IIS snap-in, Web site administrators can also restore copies of the metabase to other computers. These back up methods provide a way to restore only your metabase settings, not your content files. As with previous versions of IIS, you can programmatically create a legacy backup of the metabase; however, you can not restore legacy backups of the metabase to other computers.

Secure Backup
Using this method, the Web site administrator provides a password that is then used to encrypt the metabase backup. Password information is stored in the metabase backup header, which indicates a password was used to create the backup. After the password is encrypted and stored in the metabase backup, the password cannot be changed. Only administrators who know the password can restore the metabase backup. See the To create a secure backup (Password Required) section below.

Insecure Backup
Using this method, the Web site administrator chooses not to supply a password. The metabase backup is encrypted with a blank password and anyone can restore the metabase backup. See the To create an insecure backup (Password Not Required) section below.

Legacy Backup
Using this method, the Web site administrator can create metabase backups programmatically. However, legacy back ups must be restored either programmatically or by using Configuration Backup/Restore from the IIS snap-in.

Important The legacy back up method is not recommended and therefore not described. When you create backups programmatically, IIS implements the legacy method used in IIS 5.0. Therefore, you can only restore legacy metabase backups to the operating system on which the backup was created.

### To create a secure backup (Password Required)

1. In the IIS snap-in, select the Computer icon under Internet Information Services.
2. Click Action, select All Tasks, and select Backup/Restore Configuration.
3. Click Create backup.
4. Type a name in the Configuration backup name text box.
5. Select the Encrypt backup using password check box, and type a password into the Password text box.
6. Click OK, and click Close. By default, the backup file is stored in the
   `\Winnt\System32\Inetsrv\MetaBack` directory.

### To create an insecure backup (Password Not Required)

1. In the IIS snap-in, select the Computer icon under Internet Information Services.
2. Click Action, select All Tasks, and select Backup/Restore Configuration.
3. Click Create backup.
4. Type a name in the Configuration backup name text box.
5. Click OK, and click Close.

Related Topics

- For information about restoring the metabase, see Metabase Reliability.

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