Category Archives: SQL Server Backup

How to backup remote SQL Server database using SqlBak

Backups, Learn SQL, SQL Server, SQL Server Backup, SqlBak

With the help of SqlBak, you can backup your remote SQL Server databases according to your schedule. A standard BACKUP DATABASE command doesn’t work on a remote SQL Server, only scripts can be generated. If there is a choice between scripts generation or performing backups in *.bak files, it is always recommended to run the standard BACKUP DATABASE command to get *.bak files. Scripts have some drawbacks: they are larger and do not support differential and transaction log backups. A more detailed explanation about remote backups can be found in the following blog post.

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How to backup and restore Amazon RDS SQL Server

Amazon S3 & AWS, Backups, Learn SQL, SQL Server, SQL Server Backup, SqlBak

Amazon RDS SQL Server is a cloud database from Amazon. The way RDS SQL Server performs backups is the main difference between this and classic SQL Server. It offers the following: snapshots, restore point-in-time, Export Data-tier Application, and native backup to S3, instead of native T-SQL BACKUP DATABASE construction.
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MS SQL Server DBMS – /bin/sh: 1: /opt/mssql-tools/bin/sqlcmd

Backups, Learn SQL, SQL Errors, SQL Server, SQL Server Backup

If you get the following error message during SqlBak set up on Linux or during a backup job:

MS SQL Server DBMS – /bin/sh: 1: /opt/mssql-tools/bin/sqlcmd

it means that SqlBak app could not find the path to the msql executables. By default, SqlBak searches for mssql files in the /opt/mssql-tools/bin/sqlcmd directory. Continue reading MS SQL Server DBMS – /bin/sh: 1: /opt/mssql-tools/bin/sqlcmd →

SQL Server backup format: BAK vs SQB

SQL Server, SQL Server Backup

SqlBak creates backups in so-called .bak format, while RedGate’s product stores backups in .sqb format. What’s the difference?

Usually, database backup files with .bak extension contain data in the standard Microsoft Tape Format (MTF)  used by  Microsoft itself as well as many backup tools for the Microsoft Windows platform. Many third-party SQL Server backup products including SqlBak and SqlBackupAndFtp produce backups in this format as well.

Files with .sqb extension contain backups in RedGate’s proprietary format. You would need to use some special utilities if you want it to be converted into MTF. Let’s learn more about Microsoft Tape Format (MTF) and SQL Backup format from Red Gate.

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How to Backup SQL Server to FTP Server

Backups, Learn SQL, SQL Server, SQL Server Backup, SqlBak

Copy of Destinations (3)One of the most popular ways how to create SQL Server database backup is to use SSMS or T-SQL Commands. But what if your backup plan is full backups twice a day, differential backups every 4 hours, and transaction log backups every 30 minutes, and you prefer to store all SQL Server database backup on FTP Server. How much time will you spend each day to complete such scenarios? You can simply tune SqlBak backup job just in few minutes, which will make SQL Server database backups according to your schedule and send them to FTP Server. Continue reading How to Backup SQL Server to FTP Server →

How to Backup SQL Server to Local or Network Folder

Backups, Learn SQL, SQL Server, SQL Server Backup, SqlBak

How to Backup SQL Server to Local or Network Folder (logo)Do you make your SQL Server database backups with the help of SSMS or by using T-SQL Commands, or in any other way? How much time do you usually spend every day to make backups and store them to Local or Network Folder? With the help of SqlBak,  you can create a backup job that will make SQL Server backup regularly and store them to your local or network folder. Continue reading How to Backup SQL Server to Local or Network Folder →