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How do I back up Microsoft SQL Server?

Category: Backup  |  Hits: 9014

If you have SQL Enterprise Manager (2000) or SQL Server Management Studio, you can schedule SQL to generate backup files on a recurring basis, then select that directory to backup with Remote Data Backups.

If you don't currently have a mechanism to snapshot your open and in-use SQL database, you can use our ESBackup plugin.

In SQL 2000 Enterprise Manager:

1. Log into your SQL database, right click and select "All Tasks / Backup Database".
2. By default, SQL selects "Database - Complete". If you wish you can select "Database - Differential".
3. The default destination to save your SQL backup file is typically "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\BACKUP". Double click the path, add "sqlbackup.bak" to the existing path, and click Ok.
4. Schedule backups by checking the "Schedule" option, then clicking the "..." button. Select the Recurring radio option, then click the "Change" button. Then select Daily, Weekly or Monthly and the time. To close out, click "Ok" on each of the open dialog boxes.
5. After the scheduled backup time, check the "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\BACKUP" directory to confirm successful backup.
6. Don't forget to select the SQL backup directory in Remote Data Backups. Open the RDB program, click the Backup tab, click "Explore to pick files", navigate to "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\BACKUP", and in the right window, check the box to the left of the folder.

For more information, please see our step-by-step SQL Backup instructions at www.remotedatabackups.com/support/instructions.cfm?t=14 or visit the Microsoft SQL Server TechCenter.

In SQL Server 2005 Management Studio, the backup dialog no longer has scheduling options, so you need to use a maintenance plan.

A maintenance plan is an SSIS package, which means you either need SSIS or SP2 installed, because SP2 includes a limited version of SSIS for maintenance tasks including backups.

1. Open SQL Server Management Studio.
2. Right-click the node Server Objects > Backup Devices and select menu "Add Backup Device...".
3. Expand the Management node, right click Maintenance Plans and select Maintenance Plan Wizard.
4. Click Next on the Wizard splash screen.
5. Enter a unique name (i.e. 'NightlyBackup'), select your server and authentication, then click Next.
6. Check Back Up Database (Full) or Differential & Transaction log, then click Next.
7. On the Task Order screen, click Next.
8. On the Databases line, select the All databases or select them from the "These databases" list, then click OK,
   Select Back up to: Disk, and enter the Folder: where you wish to store the backup file on your drive, leave the extension of bak, and click Next.
9. On the Schedule line, click Change, then enter a name (i.e. 'Nightly'), change Occurs to Daily, and time to at least :30 minutes before your automated Remote Data Backups are scheduled (usually 8pm), and click OKaa.
10. Confirm the report location, and click Next.
11. Click Finish.
12. Don't forget to select the SQL backup directory in Remote Data Backups. Open the RDB program, click the Backup tab, click "Explore to pick files", navigate to "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\BACKUP", and in the right window, check the box to the left of the folder.