What is the best method or tool to take a backup of Active Directory?

your AD is it under cluster or stand alone? you want a free solution or the best one?

I also agree with the brother who said Norton Backup Exec. But you can also use command line tools that come natively with windows to do this task, the good thing about command line tools is the ability to automate the task using short scripts

http://blog.pluralsight.com/backup-and-restore-active-directory-on-windows-server-2008

Symantec and Storagecraft these tools are best for taking backup of Active Directory or else windows backup is good.

There are so many tools and methods are available. Symantec Backup Exec Tool is mostly used big big enterprise these days. 

Hi,

1- you can use the built in windows backup and you only take System State Backup , I have tried this before and it was very good to restore your data.(in case you don't have budget to buy Backup solution).

2- you can use ManageEngine active directory backup software.

3-you can use HP Data-protector or Symantec Backup Exec to do that.

Thanks

Some of the options are,

Symantec Backup Exec Server.

CA Arcsrv

EMC networker,

Microsoft DPM.

And many more.

It really depends on your requirements, budget and scenario.

There are so many tools and methods are available to take your backup for AD.

Here is the  list goes

-Microsoft inbuilt NTbackup.

-Symantec Backup Exec

-CA Arcsrv

-ad-recovery-manager

-Bacula

Friends ,

I would suggest Backup exe2014 , it has feature called "Granular Recovery" and this would help you to recover individual Active Directory Objects, including deleted user accounts, printers, and organizational units—right down to the individual attribute level. Now you'll have the power to recover objects in most Active Directory partitions, including the configuration partition--without having to restore all of Active Directory.

Also check some good feature Symantec Backup exe Online Recovery , Full Disaster Recovery support..etc 

-Shakkeer 

Use Windows itself to make the backup or if you have the licensed backup software, make use of it also.

System state backup can be handled by any backup solution, even Windows Backup can handle the backup and restore

I highly appreciated the solution that concern about backing up active directory database and concentrate about easily restore specific Active directory object, make it easier for un-authoritative restore than it was before with built-in windows server methods, in addition that the active directory service is still running while restoring specific AD objects.

Anyway I tried Symantec Backup Exec and it work very well to the intended goal