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
>

backing up transaction logs

Hi,
I would like to know if it is really nessary to backup the transaction logs
if their size is above 10 gigabytes. Is it not better to backup only the
database, delete the current log and then re-create the log.
If so, can someone help me with a scheduled script to do this?
Thnx
Hi
Check out
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...r_da2_1uzr.asp
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...r_da2_7vaf.asp
Deleting the log file as you have suggested would mean that the database is
not available during that period of time.
Your log file should be sized appropriately so that it does not continuously
grow, if you re-create a log file that is too small then you may affect
performance.
John
"Jason" <jasonlewis@.hotrmail.com> wrote in message
news:O$kKVGDEFHA.3032@.TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
> I would like to know if it is really nessary to backup the transaction
> logs
> if their size is above 10 gigabytes. Is it not better to backup only the
> database, delete the current log and then re-create the log.
> If so, can someone help me with a scheduled script to do this?
>
> Thnx
>
|||Jason
If you don't want to use your transaction log for recovery purposes, set
your database to simple recovery mode. Then your transaction log will be
truncated every time a checkpoint is issued.
Regards
John
"John Bell" wrote:

> Hi
> Check out
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...r_da2_1uzr.asp
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...r_da2_7vaf.asp
> Deleting the log file as you have suggested would mean that the database is
> not available during that period of time.
> Your log file should be sized appropriately so that it does not continuously
> grow, if you re-create a log file that is too small then you may affect
> performance.
> John
> "Jason" <jasonlewis@.hotrmail.com> wrote in message
> news:O$kKVGDEFHA.3032@.TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>
>

backing up transaction logs

Hi,
I would like to know if it is really nessary to backup the transaction logs
if their size is above 10 gigabytes. Is it not better to backup only the
database, delete the current log and then re-create the log.
If so, can someone help me with a scheduled script to do this?
ThnxHi
Check out
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...r />
_1uzr.asp
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...r />
_7vaf.asp
Deleting the log file as you have suggested would mean that the database is
not available during that period of time.
Your log file should be sized appropriately so that it does not continuously
grow, if you re-create a log file that is too small then you may affect
performance.
John
"Jason" <jasonlewis@.hotrmail.com> wrote in message
news:O$kKVGDEFHA.3032@.TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
> I would like to know if it is really nessary to backup the transaction
> logs
> if their size is above 10 gigabytes. Is it not better to backup only the
> database, delete the current log and then re-create the log.
> If so, can someone help me with a scheduled script to do this?
>
> Thnx
>|||Jason
If you don't want to use your transaction log for recovery purposes, set
your database to simple recovery mode. Then your transaction log will be
truncated every time a checkpoint is issued.
Regards
John
"John Bell" wrote:

> Hi
> Check out
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d.../>
a2_1uzr.asp
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d.../>
a2_7vaf.asp
> Deleting the log file as you have suggested would mean that the database i
s
> not available during that period of time.
> Your log file should be sized appropriately so that it does not continuous
ly
> grow, if you re-create a log file that is too small then you may affect
> performance.
> John
> "Jason" <jasonlewis@.hotrmail.com> wrote in message
> news:O$kKVGDEFHA.3032@.TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>
>

backing up transaction logs

Hi,
I would like to know if it is really nessary to backup the transaction logs
if their size is above 10 gigabytes. Is it not better to backup only the
database, delete the current log and then re-create the log.
If so, can someone help me with a scheduled script to do this?
ThnxHi
Check out
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/architec/8_ar_da2_1uzr.asp
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/architec/8_ar_da2_7vaf.asp
Deleting the log file as you have suggested would mean that the database is
not available during that period of time.
Your log file should be sized appropriately so that it does not continuously
grow, if you re-create a log file that is too small then you may affect
performance.
John
"Jason" <jasonlewis@.hotrmail.com> wrote in message
news:O$kKVGDEFHA.3032@.TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
> I would like to know if it is really nessary to backup the transaction
> logs
> if their size is above 10 gigabytes. Is it not better to backup only the
> database, delete the current log and then re-create the log.
> If so, can someone help me with a scheduled script to do this?
>
> Thnx
>|||Jason
If you don't want to use your transaction log for recovery purposes, set
your database to simple recovery mode. Then your transaction log will be
truncated every time a checkpoint is issued.
Regards
John
"John Bell" wrote:
> Hi
> Check out
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/architec/8_ar_da2_1uzr.asp
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/architec/8_ar_da2_7vaf.asp
> Deleting the log file as you have suggested would mean that the database is
> not available during that period of time.
> Your log file should be sized appropriately so that it does not continuously
> grow, if you re-create a log file that is too small then you may affect
> performance.
> John
> "Jason" <jasonlewis@.hotrmail.com> wrote in message
> news:O$kKVGDEFHA.3032@.TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I would like to know if it is really nessary to backup the transaction
> > logs
> > if their size is above 10 gigabytes. Is it not better to backup only the
> > database, delete the current log and then re-create the log.
> >
> > If so, can someone help me with a scheduled script to do this?
> >
> >
> > Thnx
> >
> >
>
>