Robocopy is a powerful Microsoft Windows 2000 Resource Kit and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit tool. This command-line tool can accomplish a variety of scripted copying tasks, including large data migrations and server consolidations. The 22-page robocopy.doc document that's installed with the resource kit tools has a complete explanation of Robocopy's more than 40 switches (more switches than in any other tool I've seen).
I covered the Robocopy tool in "Real-World Scripting: Data Migration with Robocopy, Part 1," March 2001, http://www.winscriptingsolutions.com, InstantDoc ID 19826, and "Real-World Scripting: Data Migration with Robocopy, Part 2," April 2001, InstantDoc ID 20134, and these are good reference documents for you to review before you try to use Robocopy for a large project. In addition, here are answers to some FAQs about effectively using Robocopy for major data migrations and server consolidations. These questions and answers should complement the information in my earlier articles and address queries I've received about using Robocopy.
How dependable is Robocopy? Can it fail to copy a file or group of files without logging an error? . . .
Why become a VIP member?
 |
VIP-only online access |
 |
VIP CD delivered twice a year: offline access to the entire Windows IT Pro article library |
 |
Monthly issue of your choice of Windows IT Pro or SQL Server Magazine |
Register
