Creating legacy backups of SQL Server groups or files

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You can create a legacy backup of SQL Server groups or files in a normal SQL Server database by using Microsoft™ Management Console (MMC). You can also use the legacy method to back up groups of files in availability databases with SQL Server 2012 and later versions.

Before you begin

On SQL Server 2012 and later versions, you can back up availability databases in an AlwaysOn Availability Group regardless of which availability replica is used for the backup operation. To back up availability databases, ensure that Data Protection for SQL Server IBM Storage® Protect Snapshot is configured to use an AlwaysOn node. Additionally, specify the AlwaysOn node in the AlwaysOn Node field in the IBM Storage Protect Node Names page of the IBM Storage Protect Configuration Wizard.

Procedure

  1. Start MMC.
  2. Select the SQL Server instance in the tree view.
  3. On the Protect tab of an SQL Server instance, select an option for viewing databases.
    Table 1. Database backup views
    Task Action
    View a list of SQL Server databases that are available for a backup operation Click View: Databases.
    View a list of SQL Server 2012 and later version availability databases that are available for a backup operation Click Standard Databases. Information about the availability databases in an availability group is displayed, including the replica role, synchronization state, and space and log usage.

    Toggle the Standard Databases / Availability Databases button for the respective database views.

    Refine the list of available databases in the results pane by entering a keyword in the Search field.

  4. Verify the backup options. If the backup options are not displayed, click Show Backup Options.
    • Use the Stripes option to specify the number of data stripes to use in a backup or restore operation. The numstripes variable can be in the range 1 - 64. The default value is 1.

      When using a multiple stripes number for legacy backups, and setting the Verify Only parameter to Yes to restore the legacy backup, the number of stripes for legacy restore should be equal or greater than the number of stripes for the legacy backup.

  5. Optional: Choose a mode for the current task:
    • Run Interactively: Click this item to run the current task interactively. This selection is the default.
    • Run Scheduled: Click this item to convert the current action into a scheduled task. When you select this item, the schedule wizard runs the command that is required to complete the task.
  6. To start the backup operation, in the Actions pane, take one of the following actions:
    • Group Backup to TSM: This option backs up the contents of the specified file group.
    • File Backup to TSM: This option backs up the contents of the specified logical data file.
    • Set Backup to TSM: This option backs up the contents of the specified groups and files.
  7. After you complete a Group, File, or Set backup operation, back up the transaction logs.
    You cannot back up a logical log file.

What to do next

You can view the status of the backup operation by clicking Task List in the results pane. Click Task Details to view detailed status information.