How to back Active Directory

Hi,

How do you backup / restore the Active Directory? I just want to get prepared for the possibility that something might go wrong with the Server.
If possible, I want to keep a backup copy of the active directory so that I can just restore it in another server with minimal reconfiguring in the new server.

I'm running windows 2003 server

Run NTBackup and select 'System State' in the items to be backed up which includes System files, drivers, registry and Active Directory, if its a Domain Controller.

Note, moving Active Directory to a new server with different hardware can be problematic, ideally, you would not restore it to a new server but use DCPromo to promote another server and move the roles across.