backup a partition instead of using the backup tool of SQL Server

Hi,
I need to do a backup of a SQL Server database, of a volume of around 200
gigabytes.
For reasons that would be too long to explain, I have no other option than
to do a full backup (a snapshot) of the drive (the partition) on which the
database resides.
If I do that,
- what are all the measures I should take in order to be sure that the
database is inactive during the whole backup process
- even if I take all these measures, if I restore the partition, will I have
a corrupt database?
Thank you!Arles
Does the database have only one data file? Do you have filegroups?
"Arles" <arles@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4460192a$0$23543$ba620e4c@.news.skynet.be...
> Hi,
> I need to do a backup of a SQL Server database, of a volume of around 200
> gigabytes.
> For reasons that would be too long to explain, I have no other option than
> to do a full backup (a snapshot) of the drive (the partition) on which the
> database resides.
> If I do that,
> - what are all the measures I should take in order to be sure that the
> database is inactive during the whole backup process
> - even if I take all these measures, if I restore the partition, will I
> have
> a corrupt database?
> Thank you!|||"Arles" <arles@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4460192a$0$23543$ba620e4c@.news.skynet.be...
> Hi,
> I need to do a backup of a SQL Server database, of a volume of around 200
> gigabytes.
> For reasons that would be too long to explain, I have no other option than
> to do a full backup (a snapshot) of the drive (the partition) on which the
> database resides.
> If I do that,
> - what are all the measures I should take in order to be sure that the
> database is inactive during the whole backup process
You don't need to make sure it's inactive. You'll get a consistent backup
even if transactions are being performed.
> - even if I take all these measures, if I restore the partition, will I
have
> a corrupt database?
No, the DB will not be corrupt.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2000/maintain/sqlbackuprest.mspx
has some details
> Thank you!|||Greg wrote on Tue, 9 May 2006 08:31:40 -0400:
> "Arles" <arles@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:4460192a$0$23543$ba620e4c@.news.skynet.be...
>> Hi,
>> I need to do a backup of a SQL Server database, of a volume of around 200
>> gigabytes.
>> For reasons that would be too long to explain, I have no other option
>> than to do a full backup (a snapshot) of the drive (the partition) on
>> which the database resides. If I do that, - what are all the measures I
>> should take in order to be sure that the database is inactive during the
>> whole backup process
> You don't need to make sure it's inactive. You'll get a consistent backup
> even if transactions are being performed.
>> - even if I take all these measures, if I restore the partition, will I
> have
>> a corrupt database?
> No, the DB will not be corrupt.
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2000/maintain/sqlbackuprest.mspx
> has some details
That article is about using the backup features of SQL Server. The OP is
asking about backing up the drive itself outside of SQL Server while it's
running.
I'm taking a guess here, but detaching the database and then backing up the
drive should leave the files in a state that they can be reattached from the
backup. Personally I avoid backing up the SQL database files themselves, but
I the OP says he has no choice.
Dan|||"Daniel Crichton" <msnews@.worldofspack.com> wrote in message
news:eRty$l2cGHA.1264@.TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Greg wrote on Tue, 9 May 2006 08:31:40 -0400:
> >
> > "Arles" <arles@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:4460192a$0$23543$ba620e4c@.news.skynet.be...
> >> Hi,
> >> I need to do a backup of a SQL Server database, of a volume of around
200
> >> gigabytes.
> >> For reasons that would be too long to explain, I have no other option
> >> than to do a full backup (a snapshot) of the drive (the partition) on
> >> which the database resides. If I do that, - what are all the measures I
> >> should take in order to be sure that the database is inactive during
the
> >> whole backup process
> >
> > You don't need to make sure it's inactive. You'll get a consistent
backup
> > even if transactions are being performed.
> >
> >> - even if I take all these measures, if I restore the partition, will I
> > have
> >> a corrupt database?
> >
> > No, the DB will not be corrupt.
> >
> >
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2000/maintain/sqlbackuprest.mspx
> >
> > has some details
> That article is about using the backup features of SQL Server. The OP is
> asking about backing up the drive itself outside of SQL Server while it's
> running.
Hmm, good point. Misread that.
Now I'm curious why he says he has no other option.
> I'm taking a guess here, but detaching the database and then backing up
the
> drive should leave the files in a state that they can be reattached from
the
> backup. Personally I avoid backing up the SQL database files themselves,
but
> I the OP says he has no choice.
> Dan
>