Dear all,
I have a database of 1 TB size. I planned to take full backup on sunday and differential backup on each day. But when I tried taking differential backup another day after full backup on sunday it gave me error.

Error:--
Cannot perform a differential backup for database, because a current database backup does not exist. Perform a full database backup by reissuing BACKUP DATABASE, omitting the WITH DIFFERENTIAL option.

I further analyzed the problem on a test database and found that the culprit is SQL Server VSS Writer running while I am taking ntbackup of the database backup file to tape. When I saw backup and restore Report I saw entries with device type 7.

When I stopped SQL Server VSS Writer the problem got resolved.

Now I want your suggestions as I have to implement the same on production server. Is there any problem if I stop SQL VSS Service on Production Server.

Something new to me . but have you checked that is FULL backup exist there ? i think it should be there before going for diffrential.

-------Bhuvnesh----------
I work only to learn Sql Server...though my company pays me for getting their stuff done;-)

Did the Sunday full backup complete successfully?

Rob Schripsema
Propack, Inc.

Hi Bhuvnesh/ Rob,

Thanks for your reply, but as I said the full backup is completed successfully.

Dear All,

The problem was resolved by stopping VSS Service and it is running fine on production server.

The SQL VSS service can be used for a number of things. Simply having VSS writer active will not in itself cause problems with your backup chain.

One typical use of VSS writer is with disk-based backup agents. You may find your Windows people have included your database in their backup plan. You may even find they are only sending offsite the backup they think they have made, or their DR plan is to only bring back onsite the backups they have made.

You should check with your Windows team if they have any tools that could have used VSS writer to take a backup, why they think they need to do them, and how the backups you take fit in to their DR plan.

Original author: SQL Server FineBuild 1-click install and best practice configuration of SQL Server 2017 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008 R2, 2008 and 2005. 14 Mar 2017: now over 40,000 downloads.Disclaimer: All information provided is a personal opinion that may not match reality.Quote: When I give food to the poor they call me a saint. When I ask why they are poor they call me a communist. - Archbishop Hélder Câmara

As EdVassie said, VSS writer itself is not to blame. This is a known issue with certain backup utilities that use the VSS Writer to create backups. This includes Data Protection Manager. So you probably have something running its own backups of the database causing this issue. Stopping VSS Writer is only going to make that process fail. So you should find out what that process is and stop that or stop doing native backups.

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My blog: SQL Soldier
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Database Engineer at BlueMountain Capital Management

Hello Friends......

A differential database backup records only the data that has changed since the last full database backup. This full backup is called the differential base. Differential database backups are smaller and faster than full database backups. This saves backup time at the cost of increased complexity. For large databases, differential backups can occur at shorter intervals than database backups. This reduces the work-loss exposure.

Thanks

web development

I think it's pretty obvious that everyone in this thread knows what a differential backup is. Also, differential backups are not always faster than a full backup. In fact, a differential backup could include the whole database.

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My blog: SQL Soldier
SQL Server Best Practices: SQL Server Best Practices
Twitter: @SQLSoldier
My book: Pro SQL Server 2008 Mirroring
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, Data Platform MVP
Database Engineer at BlueMountain Capital Management

here is the link which write the same wording which you have used carolwood.Thanks but pls. share your expierences\ queries rather than the exact copy of sentences for source....

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms181092.aspx