Backup requirements

1 Sep 2005 1:40 PM

hals_left

Hi, This is confusing me - is there some reason why I "need" 3rd party
backup software to backup a single SQL Server 2000 database?

I do a full backup of a small (< 1Gb ) db each night to a hard disk on
another machine. I test this manually by doing a full restore from one
of the backups. I keep daily, weekly, monthly copies.

I am now about to install an interal DAT drive on the SQL machine to do
this same plan, and will store tapes and manually test restoration from
tape the same way as above.

Any reason this scanario should require additional software, sql agents
licences etc ? Am I missing something because I am being told I need to
purchase additional software,agents,licences etc.

Thanks
hals_left

1 Sep 2005 1:58 PM

David Portas

Third-party software isn't essential. SQL Server can backup direct to
tape anyway. You might still choose the software if you need some extra
features or if you find a different user-interface easier to use.

--
David Portas
SQL Server MVP
--

1 Sep 2005 1:58 PM

Andrew J. Kelly

If the tape unit is connected directly to the same server you do not need
any other software. If it is on a remote machine you will need a 3rd party
tool.

--
Andrew J. Kelly SQL MVP

Show quote

"hals_left" <cc900***@ntu.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:1125582021.374870.66900@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> Hi, This is confusing me - is there some reason why I "need" 3rd party
> backup software to backup a single SQL Server 2000 database?
>
> I do a full backup of a small (< 1Gb ) db each night to a hard disk on
> another machine. I test this manually by doing a full restore from one
> of the backups. I keep daily, weekly, monthly copies.
>
> I am now about to install an interal DAT drive on the SQL machine to do
> this same plan, and will store tapes and manually test restoration from
> tape the same way as above.
>
> Any reason this scanario should require additional software, sql agents
> licences etc ? Am I missing something because I am being told I need to
> purchase additional software,agents,licences etc.
>
> Thanks
> hals_left
>

2 Sep 2005 8:21 AM

hals_left

I think for a small project the SQL tools are sufficient and the DAT
drive will be connected to the SQL machine.

The other thing the salesperson has said is that my plan wont "flush"
the transaction logs - and this is a big problem. Maybe later on I
will use differential backups etc , but for the short term I am not
backing up the transaction logs at all but doing a full daily backup.
Does this overwrite the transaction logs so they do not need flushing ?

Is this "flushing" the logs something to consider when doing full
backups ?

Last question - What is the appropriate owner for the backup job ? sa
or the the Windows administrator account, or some other account with
fewer privelages?

Thanks.

2 Sep 2005 5:46 PM

Andrew J. Kelly

I don't know what he meant by "flush the transaction logs"? If you are only
doing FULL backups you need to place the recovery mode to SIMPLE and it will
automatically truncate the log files. If you want to recover up to a point
in time you need to be in FULL recovery mode. But then you need to do
regular log backups as well. You should read the topics in BooksOnLIne for
Backup and Restore and this link may be helpful as well:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2000/maintain/sqlops0.mspx
Operations Guide

As for what account it depends. I am not sure if the Tape unit needs a
Domain account or not (i doubt it) but if you backup to a remote machine you
definitely need a domain account. The account that Sql Server runs under is
what counts for backups.

--
Andrew J. Kelly SQL MVP

Show quote

"hals_left" <cc900***@ntu.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:1125649300.186451.256910@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>I think for a small project the SQL tools are sufficient and the DAT
> drive will be connected to the SQL machine.
>
> The other thing the salesperson has said is that my plan wont "flush"
> the transaction logs - and this is a big problem. Maybe later on I
> will use differential backups etc , but for the short term I am not
> backing up the transaction logs at all but doing a full daily backup.
> Does this overwrite the transaction logs so they do not need flushing ?
>
>
> Is this "flushing" the logs something to consider when doing full
> backups ?
>
> Last question - What is the appropriate owner for the backup job ? sa
> or the the Windows administrator account, or some other account with
> fewer privelages?
>
> Thanks.
>