Daily Database Backup Scripts
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KenpoDBA (12/17/2015)
Give me an example. Because in every single case I can think of, it's much easier to update a table value than it is to add a new job, or to change a param in a job step.In what case is it easier to change job settings than it is to update a simple table?
You can even push out mass changes to the tables a lot more easily than you can make those changes on dozens of boxes through the job steps.
And Minion Backup scales to be an entire enterprise system if you go the route of tying it into Minion Enterprise.
But seriously, in what case is it easier to update job steps or create jobs than it is to simply update a table setting?
There is no update required for Ola's scripts. They backup every database on the server.
And, in our case, one example is the migrations we are performing. The databases are changing daily. There are interim servers that a database is moved to, updates happen, and then they are moved again to production.
The people doing this work are not DBA's. Teaching them that they need to update or make changes to these tables is beyond the scope of their understanding.
To be somewhat of a devils advocate, what if I like Ola's scripts better? Doesn't personal preference have anything to do with it?
And, I don't see Ola posting that there's no need for Minion.
Like everything, there are plusses and minus to each. Just like the scripts the OP posted. They may work just fine for his needs. There is nothing wrong with them. They will not work for me. Just like Minion is in place on some of my servers, and Ola is in place on others.
Michael L John
If you assassinate a DBA, would you pull a trigger?
To properly post on a forum:
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/61537/ -
Don't misunderstand my enthusiasm for Minion with any disrespect for Ola's tool. A lot of people really like it. And I just get over excited about preaching Minion.
However, I'd like to continue this talk if you want to, but I think someone may start complaining because we're so far off topic here.
So if you want to continue, email me and I'll be happy to go through it all with you.
And if you don't want to then it's all good. This is why we have different tools, because everyone doesn't work or think the same way.
Watch my free SQL Server Tutorials at:
http://MidnightDBA.com
Blog Author of:
DBA Rant – http://www.MidnightDBA.com/DBARantMinion Maintenance is FREE:
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Thanks for these.
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Mr or Mrs. 500,
I think Compression is definitely appropriate for the scope of this script. It is a default setting we usually have on our installations, but I think it would be appropriate addition to these scripts.
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SSComitted,
Thanks for the feedback. No doubt I am reinventing something here. It seems to be an effective method of me learning the inner workings of backups rather than just executing a script somebody else wrote. And everyone's comments help me learn more about some of the perspectives of other DBAs.
I hope I am not creating confusion for other DBAs with less experience as my scripts are definitely not as versatile as Hallengren's.
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Thank you SSC Journeyman,
I like your use of xp_cmdshell.
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My personal opinion is that you're not really a DBA unless you have a deep understanding of the various types of backups and restores. I think that every DBA should at least try to write such scripts even just as an exercise that will help guide them through what they need to know when something goes wrong.
Yes, I agree that Ola's scripts and Minion are great tools. But, just like teaching children, they shouldn't actually be allowed to touch even a 4 function calculator until they understand how to manually do the 4 functions themselves.
--Jeff Moden
RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.
Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally) -
Jeff Moden (12/17/2015)
My personal opinion is that you're not really a DBA unless you have a deep understanding of the various types of backups and restores. I think that every DBA should at least try to write such scripts even just as an exercise that will help guide them through what they need to know when something goes wrong.Yes, I agree that Ola's scripts and Minion are great tools. But, just like teaching children, they shouldn't actually be allowed to touch even a 4 function calculator until they understand how to manually do the 4 functions themselves.
Agreed, but....
Wouldn't taking apart Minion or Ola's scripts and figuring out what they do is also be good learning tool?
Seeing this script is deja vu for me. I went down the path of writing my own, and spent day after day adding to them, fixing them, learning new things, breaking lots of things, and so forth.
When someone turned me on to Ola's scripts, the time spent learning what they did, and in some cases, modifying them to suit my exact needs, was far more productive for me than continuing on the same path.
Michael L John
If you assassinate a DBA, would you pull a trigger?
To properly post on a forum:
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/61537/ -
Michael L John (12/18/2015)
Jeff Moden (12/17/2015)
My personal opinion is that you're not really a DBA unless you have a deep understanding of the various types of backups and restores. I think that every DBA should at least try to write such scripts even just as an exercise that will help guide them through what they need to know when something goes wrong.Yes, I agree that Ola's scripts and Minion are great tools. But, just like teaching children, they shouldn't actually be allowed to touch even a 4 function calculator until they understand how to manually do the 4 functions themselves.
Agreed, but....
Wouldn't taking apart Minion or Ola's scripts and figuring out what they do is also be good learning tool?
Absolutely agreed they should take apart the scripts and study them. I know you, me, and many other folks concerned with their servers have done that very thing if, for no other reason, than to do a "safety" and "functionality" check before letting them anywhere near our servers but there are a whole lot of people out there that claim to be DBAs that aren't much more than users with DBA privs that won't do such a thing. I know this to be a fact because I think I've interviewed most of them in the State of Michigan. 😀
--Jeff Moden
RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.
Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally) -
Big fan of Ola's Backup/Integrity scripts but I am also a big fan of Minion Index, so I will try Minion Backup on my sandbox and play around with that. More tools in the (SQL) toolbox can only be a good thing.
qh
[font="Tahoma"]Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. – Carl Jung.[/font] -
Cool. Let me know if you need any help getting started with Minion Backup. We have lots of videos, and other docs. And I'm always here to answer any other questions you have.
Watch my free SQL Server Tutorials at:
http://MidnightDBA.com
Blog Author of:
DBA Rant – http://www.MidnightDBA.com/DBARantMinion Maintenance is FREE:
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