Introduction
This article details how to backup Microsoft SQL Server databases
Macrium Reflect Server Plus allows the backing up of SQL databases. All versions of Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Server Express are supported from SQL Server 2005 onwards. SQL Server 2000 and earlier is not supported.
This article will detail the following:
- How to log onto an SQL instance
- How to create an SQL database backup
- How to create differential and log backups
Logging onto SQL
Before you can backup SQL databases, it is necessary to log on to the SQL server you wish to back up:
- Select Manage SQL Logins
- Macrium Reflect will then scan your local PC for installed instances of SQL Server and display them in the following dialog:
If no instances are displayed, this may be because the SQL Browser service has been disabled. Please see this knowlegdebase article for more information. You can enter the details manually by selecting Connect to SQL instance manually.
- Select the instance you wish to connect to and click Connect.
- Enter the required login criteria for this instance and click Connect.
- If successful, the instance should be shown as Connected.
Backing up SQL Databases
To backup SQL databases:
- Select Backup SQL Databases
- You will be presented with the following dialog:
This will display all the databases associated with the instances of SQL that you have logged into. Select the databases you wish to backup, set the destination directory for the image files (in this case E:\ drive) and if necessary any alternative locations. You can add new instances or refresh the list as required. When you have made the selection, click Next. - The next screen on the wizard presents a summary of the databases that are to be backed up and associated options. Click Advanced Options to modify aspects of the backup such as Compression, Encryption, Disk Space Management Configuration, Shutdown options and email notification settings. When you are happy to proceed, click Finish.
- Just as in normal imaging, you are offered the ability to save your configuration as an XML definition file for later reuse. Click OK to run the backup.
How to create differential and log backups
To create a differential or log backup, it is important to ensure that you have already created an SQL XML definition file and run a full backup. Please note that it is not possible to create Log backups of database which use the SIMPLE recovery model.
To create a log or differential backup:
- Go to the Backup Definition Files tab under the Backup tab and select the XML file you wish to perform an log or differential backup of.
- Select the Run option or right-click on the XML file you wish to run
Select the type of backup you wish to run. - The backup should be run immediately.