Backups - scripts vs app

  • Hi,

    Just a question regarding backups - for a smaller SQL database < 10 gb... would it be generally acceptable just to use scripts to backup the database to BAK files for a daily backup or is having a SQL aware backup application a must have?  I know I could get an image backup but that wouldn't allow me the flexibility to just affect the SQL database? I'd like to be able to bring up the database backup as fast as possible if there is an issue.

    Thanks,
    Jason

  • I can't think of a reason why a special SQL aware backup application would be a must have.  There's plenty of free scripts available that people use for much larger databases than 10 GB, here's the 2 most popular:
    https://ola.hallengren.com/
    http://minionware.net/backup/

  • Jason Toews - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 12:51 PM

    Hi,

    Just a question regarding backups - for a smaller SQL database < 10 gb... would it be generally acceptable just to use scripts to backup the database to BAK files for a daily backup or is having a SQL aware backup application a must have?  I know I could get an image backup but that wouldn't allow me the flexibility to just affect the SQL database? I'd like to be able to bring up the database backup as fast as possible if there is an issue.

    Thanks,
    Jason

    What you do with backups really should first be based on what the RTO and RPO are for whatever databases you are backing up. Regardless of the size, those would be my biggest considerations first. Then I would figure out what methods, technology will meet those needs. 
    If you are referring to a system image, that is a server backup so it will have limitations. There are similar processes available for just the databases but what's available depends on the environment (hardware), costs, skill sets to some degree and probably other things I'm not thinking of right now. SQL aware backups aren't necessarily a must, it really depends.
    With RTO and RPO in mind, find the technologies that meet those. Since it's a business need, you tell the business what the options are and what you would need to meet those objectives. And then go from there. 

    Sue

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