EASY OFF-SITE SQL SERVER DATABASE BACKUPS. SQL Backup Master backs up your SQL Server databases to any number of popular cloud storage services such as Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon S3, Microsoft Azure, Box, and Google Drive. How to backup SQL Server 2005 user databases in SQL script with all data (.sql) and restore this script of all databases on SQL server 2008 OR How to restore all databases backed up through this script into new clean instance of SQL Server (backed up in SQL Server 2005 standard and restore to SQL Server 2008 web edition).
The most important part of a SQL Server maintenance plan is backing up your databases regularly. To backup a database, you cannot simply copy the respective MDF and LDF files of the database as SQL Server has a lock on these. Instead, you need to create a true backup file through SQL Server.
While this can be done by developing a Maintenance Plan inside of SQL Management Studio, the free Express editions of SQL Server do not offer this interface. To work around this, you can easily backup your databases by running the command below while logged in as a Windows Administrator:
SqlCmd -E -S Server_Name –Q “BACKUP DATABASE [Name_of_Database] TO DISK=’X:PathToBackupLocation[Name_of_Database].bak'”
The examples below will help.
Default SQL Server instance:
SqlCmd -E -S MyServer –Q “BACKUP DATABASE [MyDB] TO DISK=’D:BackupsMyDB.bak'”
Named SQL Server instance:
SqlCmd -E -S MyServerMyInstance –Q “BACKUP DATABASE [MyDB] TO DISK=’D:BackupsMyDB.bak'”
The above create a fully restorable backup copy of “MyDB” to the file “D:BackupsMyDB.bak” which can be used for disaster recovery. Of course, you can change the backup location and file to whatever you need, but make sure you specify a folder location which exists on the local machine. This backup file can then be copied to a tape drive or another external backup location.
A common question is “Can a backup file be created to a mapped drive or UNC location?” and the quick answer is no. The reason is because the SQL Server Windows Service runs as a user account which only has access to the local machine. You could change the account the service runs as, but this is highly discouraged for security reasons.
Restoring a Database Backup from the Command Line
To restore a database from a backup file, simply use the command:
SqlCmd -E -S Server_Name –Q “RESTORE DATABASE [Name_of_Database] FROM DISK=’X:PathToBackupFile[File_Name].bak'”
For example:
SqlCmd -E -S MyServer –Q “RESTORE DATABASE [MyDB] FROM DISK=’D:BackupsMyDB.bak'”
The above command will restore a backup of “MyDB” from the data stored in the backup file “D:BackupsMyDB.bak”. Any changes made to MyDB since the backup file was created will be lost.
An important thing to remember when using the above command is that it is intended to be used on the same SQL Server that the respective backup file was created on. SQL backup files store ‘behind the scenes’ information that control where and how the data files in the backup file are copied. If you are restoring a backup from a different SQL Server, the path locations in the backup file may not match the server you are restoring to and an error will result. While this can be worked around, it is much easier to restore backups created on another SQL Server using the SQL Management Studio tool.
Note: the commands above will work on SQL 2005 and higher (any edition). For SQL 2000 and earlier, replace ‘SqlCmd’ with ‘oSql’.
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This topic introduces the SQL Server backup component. Backing up your SQL Server database is essential for protecting your data. This discussion covers backup types, and backup restrictions. The topic also introduces SQL Server backup devices and backup media.
Terms
back up [verb]
Copies the data or log records from a SQL Server database or its transaction log to a backup device, such as a disk, to create a data backup or log backup.
Copies the data or log records from a SQL Server database or its transaction log to a backup device, such as a disk, to create a data backup or log backup.
backup [noun]
A copy of SQL Server data that can be used to restore and recover the data after a failure. A backup of SQL Server data is created at the level of a database or one or more of its files or filegroups. Table-level backups cannot be created. In addition to data backups, the full recovery model requires creating backups of the transaction log.
A copy of SQL Server data that can be used to restore and recover the data after a failure. A backup of SQL Server data is created at the level of a database or one or more of its files or filegroups. Table-level backups cannot be created. In addition to data backups, the full recovery model requires creating backups of the transaction log.
recovery model
A database property that controls transaction log maintenance on a database. Three recovery models exist: simple, full, and bulk-logged. The recovery model of database determines its backup and restore requirements.
A database property that controls transaction log maintenance on a database. Three recovery models exist: simple, full, and bulk-logged. The recovery model of database determines its backup and restore requirements.
restore
A multi-phase process that copies all the data and log pages from a specified SQL Server backup to a specified database, and then rolls forward all the transactions that are logged in the backup by applying logged changes to bring the data forward in time.
A multi-phase process that copies all the data and log pages from a specified SQL Server backup to a specified database, and then rolls forward all the transactions that are logged in the backup by applying logged changes to bring the data forward in time.
Types of backups
copy-only backup
A special-use backup that is independent of the regular sequence of SQL Server backups.
A special-use backup that is independent of the regular sequence of SQL Server backups.
data backup
A backup of data in a complete database (a database backup), a partial database (a partial backup), or a set of data files or filegroups (a file backup).
A backup of data in a complete database (a database backup), a partial database (a partial backup), or a set of data files or filegroups (a file backup).
database backup
A backup of a database. Full database backups represent the whole database at the time the backup finished. Differential database backups contain only changes made to the database since its most recent full database backup.
A backup of a database. Full database backups represent the whole database at the time the backup finished. Differential database backups contain only changes made to the database since its most recent full database backup.
differential backup
A data backup that is based on the latest full backup of a complete or partial database or a set of data files or filegroups (the differential base) and that contains only the data extents that have changed since the differential base.
A data backup that is based on the latest full backup of a complete or partial database or a set of data files or filegroups (the differential base) and that contains only the data extents that have changed since the differential base.
A differential partial backup records only the data extents that have changed in the filegroups since the previous partial backup, known as the base for the differential.
![Sql Server Backup Database Sql Server Backup Database](/uploads/1/2/5/7/125795424/954407229.png)
full backup
A data backup that contains all the data in a specific database or set of filegroups or files, and also enough log to allow for recovering that data.
A data backup that contains all the data in a specific database or set of filegroups or files, and also enough log to allow for recovering that data.
log backup
A backup of transaction logs that includes all log records that were not backed up in a previous log backup. (full recovery model)
A backup of transaction logs that includes all log records that were not backed up in a previous log backup. (full recovery model)
file backup
A backup of one or more database files or filegroups.
A backup of one or more database files or filegroups.
partial backup
Contains data from only some of the filegroups in a database, including the data in the primary filegroup, every read/write filegroup, and any optionally-specified read-only files.
Contains data from only some of the filegroups in a database, including the data in the primary filegroup, every read/write filegroup, and any optionally-specified read-only files.
Backup media terms and definitions
backup device
A disk or tape device to which SQL Server backups are written and from which they can be restored. SQL Server backups can also be written to a Windows Azure Blob storage service, and URL format is used to specify the destination and the name of the backup file.. For more information, see SQL Server Backup and Restore with Microsoft Azure Blob Storage Service.
A disk or tape device to which SQL Server backups are written and from which they can be restored. SQL Server backups can also be written to a Windows Azure Blob storage service, and URL format is used to specify the destination and the name of the backup file.. For more information, see SQL Server Backup and Restore with Microsoft Azure Blob Storage Service.
backup media
One or more tapes or disk files to which one or more backup have been written.
One or more tapes or disk files to which one or more backup have been written.
backup set
The backup content that is added to a media set by a successful backup operation.
The backup content that is added to a media set by a successful backup operation.
media family
Backups created on a single nonmirrored device or a set of mirrored devices in a media set
Backups created on a single nonmirrored device or a set of mirrored devices in a media set
media set
An ordered collection of backup media, tapes or disk files, to which one or more backup operations have written using a fixed type and number of backup devices.
An ordered collection of backup media, tapes or disk files, to which one or more backup operations have written using a fixed type and number of backup devices.
mirrored media set
Multiple copies (mirrors) of a media set.
Multiple copies (mirrors) of a media set.
Backup compression
SQL Server 2008 Enterprise and later versions support compressing backups, and SQL Server 2008 and later versions can restore a compressed backup. For more information, see Backup Compression (SQL Server).
Backup operations restrictions
Backup can occur while the database is online and being used. However, the following restrictions exist.
Cannot back up offline data
Any backup operation that implicitly or explicitly references data that is offline fails. Some typical examples include the following:
- You request a full database backup, but one filegroup of the database is offline. Because all filegroups are implicitly included in a full database backup, this operation fails.To back up this database, you can use a file backup and specify only the filegroups that are online.
- You request a partial backup, but a read/write filegroup is offline. Because all read/write filegroups are required for a partial backup, the operation fails.
- You request a file backup of specific files, but one of the files is not online. The operation fails. To back up the online files, you can omit the offline file from the file list and repeat the operation.
Typically, a log backup succeeds even if one or more data files are unavailable. However, if any file contains bulk-logged changes made under the bulk-logged recovery model, all the files must be online for the backup to succeed.
Concurrency restrictions
SQL Server uses an online backup process to allow for a database backup while the database is still being used. During a backup, most operations are possible; for example, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements are allowed during a backup operation. However, if you try to start a backup operation while a database file is being created or deleted, the backup operation waits until the create or delete operation is finished or the backup times out.
Operations that cannot run during a database backup or transaction log backup include the following:
- File-management operations such as the ALTER DATABASE statement with either the ADD FILE or REMOVE FILE options.
- Shrink database or shrink file operations. This includes auto-shrink operations.
- If you try to create or delete a database file while a backup operation is in progress, the create or delete operation fails.
If a backup operation overlaps with a file-management operation or shrink operation, a conflict occurs. Regardless of which of the conflicting operation began first, the second operation waits for the lock set by the first operation to time out. (The time-out period is controlled by a session time-out setting.) If the lock is released during the time-out period, the second operation continues. If the lock times out, the second operation fails.
Related tasks
Backup devices and backup media
Create a backup
Note
For partial or copy-only backups, you must use the Transact-SQLBACKUP statement with the PARTIAL or COPY_ONLY option, respectively.
And more!
Back Up and Restore of SQL Server Databases
Restore and Recovery Overview (SQL Server)
Maintenance Plans
The Transaction Log (SQL Server)
Recovery Models (SQL Server)
Restore and Recovery Overview (SQL Server)
Maintenance Plans
The Transaction Log (SQL Server)
Recovery Models (SQL Server)