Protect your sql database with scheduled SQL Server Backup!

Does your business use a SQL Server? If so, bakup of a SQL server is something you're going to do on an ongoing basis. Otherwise, in the event of a catastrophic disaster - a hard disk crash, fire or data corruption, for example - your business probably wouldn't survive. SQL Server database backup is required so that you can quickly restore all your databases, with minimal impact on your business.

Typically when performing a server backup, everything on the server is copied on to a separate high capacity backup device, such as tape, hard disk or network storage. SQL Server backup is no exception. And don't forget the basic maintenance principles of backup strategies either. Use an industry-standard rotation scheme and store your backup media offsite. As always, using quality data backup software makes the whole process automatic, simple and reliable.

The problem with the NTBackup program - the standard Windows backup software - is that it's rather difficult to use and, even worse, it can't backup files that are open when the backup process occurs. That means that NTBackup can't perform backups on the SQL databases that are in use. You have you shut down your SQL Server before initiating the backup - but what happens when you want the SQL Server in operation 24-7?

The solution is to find backup software for SQL servers that can make live backups of the SQL Server, even the databases that are in use. In our example we use BackupAssist a software which can make server backup from SQL databases. BackupAssist is a backup software provider.

BackupAssist will make SQL Server backups of databases, performed live online and will include these backups in your backup job( together with system stats and/or Exchange Server and your other files) on Windows severs running Windows NT, XP, 2000 and 2003.

With this product you will be able to perform restoration on any SQL Server, without any additional software. This is because the SQL backups are made in the standard SQL database Backup Format.

It is also possible to restore individual databases to other and different SQL Servers.

BackupAssist performs a backup to a backup file by logging in to your SQL Server. This data file is then transmitted to your backup device (it can be hard drive, tape, network server, etc.)

You can also perform advanced operations with the SQL Database Backup File. For example you can make recovery using logs for point-in-time restoration using SQL Server transaction logs (Advanced administrators used to SQL Server database will be familiar with this).

BackupAssist Setups For SQL Server Backups Online

Important — In Case You Are Making A Remote SQL Server Backup

If remote SQL Server is what you are backing up, then you need to make an installation of the SQL Server Client Tools on your backup computer. This installation installs libraries that are necessary for communication with your SQL Server.

BackupAssist Settings

On the SQL Server tab in BackupAssist in your backup job you find the SQL Server Settings.

You need to use a valid SQL Server logon to backup your databases in BackupAssist. The logon must be made with SQL Authentication. Most administrators include a “sa” user in the installation as this is the recommended user.

If you or not sure, please use the online HTML Help tutorial file that is included in BackupAssist. In depth instructions are given of the setup procedure the get a valid SQL Server logon to execute the backups.

How To Make Databases To Backup Selection

Click on the 'Select databases to backup...' to select your databases to backup and make a check of the databases to backup.

SQL Backup Directory

This is the backup directory on which the SQL Server databases are kept. Before you perform the backup you should check and make sure that this directory has enough disk space for the backup the databases.

With local SQL Server backups

Storage on any directory or local hard drive with enough free space will do.

With remote SQL Server backups

I requirement is to have access to both your backup computers and SQL Server is to specify a network directory. For this purpose you can create a network share on your remote backup computer. However make sure to specify a UNC in the format.
\\ServerName\ShareName