Functionality Central Administration Stsadm command-line tool

Back up the server farm Yes Yes

Recover the server farm,
except the configuration
& Central Administration
databases Yes Yes

Recover the configuration
and Central
Administration databases No No
BackUp Web applications Yes Yes
BackUp an SSP Yes Yes
BackUp site collections No Yes
BackUp content databases Yes Yes
BackUp customizations No No
Schedule backups No Yes, (task scheduler)