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srv_fan73
Starting Member
2 Posts |
 Posted - 2010-01-20 : 12:07:11
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| I am new to SQL admin and we are getting some input for backup of the SQL database. We have SBS 2008 server with SQL standard edition for small business. Our outsourced network admin person is suggesting we use symantec 12.5 for server backup along with a separate sql backup software from symantec. Just wondering if this is the 'standard' for backing up SQL and/or if the 'built-in' back up would work just as well if we had to restore the server? Thanks! |
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Kristen
Test
22859 Posts |
Posted - 2010-01-20 : 13:09:58
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| " separate sql backup software from symantec"You are right to be cautious - promise me you won't do that!!!!!!!!Backup your database to disk - using SQL Server's inbuilt command - and then backup the disk files to Tape the same as any other files you backup.I've seen too many questions in this forum over the years along the lines of "We backed up our SQL database direct to tape using XYZ software, and now we can't restore the file ..."SQL Server versions change, patches change things, ensuring that you keep your 3rd-party-backup software in step is an unnecessary risk.There are some exceptions [i.e. brands of database software that are trustworth], but unless you have a monstrously large database, need unbelievable backup performance and compression - and you have been unable to get that from SQL Server's inbuilt backup routines - don't chance you arm. |
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srv_fan73
Starting Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 2010-01-21 : 09:12:23
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| Thanks for your feedback! Please clarify as I was not certain what you meant. Did you mean to say that you believe the built-in sql backup should work well for restoring database(s) from tape? As far as the size of the database goes, our main SQL database (used by the record keeping software) is about 2gb. The IT person wants us to buy about $1000 in symatec software(2) for the backup system. I'm not saying its not worth it, just wondering if we really need it. |
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Kristen
Test
22859 Posts |
Posted - 2010-01-21 : 09:21:19
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| My recommendation:Backup, using normal SQL commands/tools, to a file on disk.Backup the disk file to tape (using whatever comes with the tape drive, or some fancy software if you like).To restore:Restore the file from Tape onto the Disk.Use normal SQL commands to restore the backup file to the database.9-times-out-of-10 you will want to restore from "the most recent backup", and that file will still be on disk, you won't even need to find the tape (and odds-on if you need a specific tape it will be the one that is now off-site for goo disaster-recovery security reasons!)Either way, make sure you routinely test that you can restore from tape. Retrieve the file from Tape to disk, and restore from Disk to a new, temporary, database (which you can Drop after you have checked that the restore worked OK). |
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Backup Solution for SBS 2008 and SQL