Protecting SQL Server data in a Windows Server Core environment

Server Core is a minimal and low-maintenance server environment where you can run the minimum services that are necessary to maintain Windows Server 2008 and later versions. You can install and operate Data Protection for SQL Server in this minimal server environment.

About this task

If you are protecting Microsoft SQL Server 2012 and later versions, you can install use Data Protection for SQL Server on Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core SP1 and later versions.

In such a minimal environment, only the command-line interface is available for Data Protection for SQL Server on Windows Server Core unless you use the Data Protection for SQL Server remote management support. Additionally, if you use Windows Installer (MSI) to install Data Protection for SQL Server, you can use only the unattended mode.

You can use the backup and restore commands to protect databases that are stored on Microsoft SQL Server 2012 or later versions.