[This is preliminary documentation and subject to change]

# Metabase Reliability

This section contains the following topics:

- Backing Up the Metabase
- Restoring the Metabase
- Metabase Snapshot Writer
- Restoring the Metabase Using History Files

Restoring the metabase configuration and metabase schema using history files is hereafter referred to as metabase rollback. Metabase rollback differs from metabase restore because metabase rollback restores the MetaBase.xml and MBSchema.xml files from history files, whereas metabase backup restores the MetaBase.xml and MBSchema.xml files from backup files. This distinction is subtle, but important to understand.

Important Restoring a backup from an earlier version of IIS is not supported. After installing or upgrading to IIS 6.0, you should perform a metabase backup to preserve your configuration data.

Metabase Rollback | Metabase Restore
--- | ---
Metabase and schema are restored from history files. | Metabase and schema are restored from backup files.
History files can only be restored on the same installation of Windows that they were created from because they are encrypted with the machine key. | Backup files can be restored to a different installation of Windows, even on a different computer if they were created using an administrator password.
History files are generated automatically, programmatically, or on demand. | Backup files are generated on demand or scheduled through the IIS snap-in, or via script.
Can be restored manually or using the IIS snap-in. | Backup files can be restored from the IIS snap-in, using APIs, or command line scripts.

Related Topics

- For more information about metabase history, see The Metabase History Feature.

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