How to schedule and automate backups of SQL Server databases in SQL Server Express Editions

Transcription

1 How to schedule and automate backups of SQL Server databases in SQL Server Express Editions View products that this article applies to. Expand all Collapse all Summary SQL Server Express editions do not offer a way to either schedule jobs or maintenance plans since SQL Server Agent component is not included with these editions. Hence you need to take a different approach to backup your databases on these editions. Currently SQL Server Express users can backup their databases using one of the following two methods: Use SQL Server Management Studio Express that is installed with either SQL Server Express Advanced Service or SQL Server Express Toolkit. For more information refer to How to: Back Up a Database (SQL Server Management Studio) topic in SQL Server Books Online. Use BACKUP DATABASE family of commands in a T-SQL script. This article explains how to use a T-SQL script in conjunction with Windows Task Scheduler to automate backups of you SQL Server Express databases on a scheduled basis. More Information You need to take the following 3 steps to backup your SQL Server databases using Windows Task Scheduler Step 1: Using SQL Server Management Studio express or Sqlcmd create the following stored procedure in your master database: // Copyright Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. // This code released under the terms of the // Microsoft Public License (MS-PL, USE [master] GO /****** Object: StoredProcedure [dbo].[sp_backupdatabases] ******/ SET ANSI_NULLS ON GO

2 SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON GO -- ============================================= -- Author: Microsoft -- Create date: Description: Backup Databases for SQLExpress -- Parameter1: databasename -- Parameter2: backuptype F=full, D=differential, L=log -- Parameter3: backup file location -- ============================================= CREATE PROCEDURE sysname = nvarchar(200) AS SET NOCOUNT ON; TABLE ( ID int IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY, DBNAME nvarchar(500) ) -- Pick out only databases which are online in case ALL databases are chosen to be backed up -- If specific database is chosen to be backed up only pick that out INSERT (DBNAME) SELECT Name FROM master.sys.databases where state=0 AND IS NULL ORDER BY Name -- Filter out databases which do not need to backed up where DBNAME IN ('tempdb','northwind','pubs','adventureworks') ELSE where DBNAME IN ('tempdb','northwind','pubs','master','adventur eworks') ELSE

3 where DBNAME IN ('tempdb','northwind','pubs','master','adventur eworks') ELSE RETURN -- Declare variables varchar(100) varchar(100) varchar(300) NVARCHAR(1000) NVARCHAR(20) int by one -- Loop through the databases one = min(id) IS NOT NULL -- Database Names have to be in [dbname] formate since some have - or _ in their name = '['+(SELECT DBNAME WHERE ID -- Set the current date and time n yyyyhhmmss format = REPLACE(CONVERT(VARCHAR, GETDATE(),101),'/','') + '_' + REPLACE(CONVERT(VARCHAR, GETDATE(),108),':','') -- Create backup filename in path\filename.extension format for full,diff and log backups = 'F' = '[',''),']','')+ '.BAK' ELSE = 'D' = '[',''),']','')+ '.BAK' ELSE = 'L' = '[',''),']','')+ '.TRN' -- Provide the backup a name for storing in the media = 'F'

4 = +' full backup for = 'D' = +' differential backup for = 'L' = +' log backup for -- Generate the dynamic SQL command to be executed = 'F' = 'BACKUP DATABASE ' ' TO DISK = ''' WITH INIT, NAME= ''' NOSKIP, NOFORMAT' = 'D' = 'BACKUP DATABASE ' ' TO DISK = ''' WITH DIFFERENTIAL, INIT, NAME= ''' NOSKIP, NOFORMAT' = 'L' = 'BACKUP LOG ' ' TO DISK = ''' WITH INIT, NAME= ''' NOSKIP, NOFORMAT' -- Execute the generated SQL command -- Goto the next database = min(id) where Step 2: In a text editor create a batch file that is named sqlbackup.bat and then copy the text from one of the following examples depending on your scenario into that file: Example1: Full Backups of ALL databases in local named instance of SQLEXPRESS using Windows Authentication

5 sqlcmd -S.\EXPRESS E -Q Example2: Differential Backups of ALL databases in local named instance of SQLEXPRESS using SQLLogin and its password sqlcmd -U SQLLogin -P password -S.\SQLEXPRESS -Q "EXEC D " Note: The SQLLogin should at least have Backup Operator role at SQL Server. Example3: Log Backups of ALL databases in local named instance of SQLEXPRESS using Windows Authentication sqlcmd -S.\SQLEXPRESS -E -Q "EXEC sp_backupdatabases Example4: Full Backups of database USERDB in local named instance of SQLEXPRESS using Windows Authentication sqlcmd -S.\SQLEXPRESS -E -Q Similarly you can take differential and log backup of USERDB by passing in D and L respectively for parameter. Step 3: Schedule a job using Windows Task Scheduler to execute the batch file created in Step 2. To do this use the following procedure: 1. On the computer that is running Microsoft SQL Server Express, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduled Tasks. 2. Double-click Add Scheduled Task. 3. In the Scheduled Task Wizard, click Next. 4. Click Browse, click the sqlbackup.bat file that you created in step 2, and then click Open. 5. Type SQLBACKUP for the name of the task, and then click Daily. Then, click Next. 6. Specify information for a schedule to run the Task. We recommend that you run this at least once every day. Then, click Next. 7. In the Enter the user name field and in the Enter the password field, type a username and a password. Then, click Next. Please note that this user should at least be assigned the BackupOperator role at SQL Server level if you are using one of the batch files in example 1, 3 and 4.

6 8. Click Finish. 9. Execute the scheduled task at least once to ensure that the backup is created successfully. Note: The folder for SQLCMD executable is generally in the Path variables for the server after SQL Server is installed, but in cases where the Path variable does not list this folder, you can find it under <Install location>\90\tools\binn (For example: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Tools\Binn). Please note the following when using the procedure documented in this article: Windows Task Scheduler service must be running at the time when the job is scheduled to run. It is recommended that you set the startup type for this service as Automatic. This ensures that the service will be running even on a restart. There should be enough space on the drive where the backups are being written to. It is recommended that you clean the old files in the backup folder on a regular basis to ensure that you do not run out of disk space. The script does not contain the logic to cleanup old files. Additional References: Task Scheduler Overview (Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista) How To Schedule Tasks in Windows XP Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2008 Note This is a "FAST PUBLISH" article created directly from within the Microsoft support organization. The information contained herein is provided as-is in response to emerging issues. As a result of the speed in making it available, the materials may include typographical errors and may be revised at any time without notice. See Terms of Use for other considerations. APPLIES TO Keywords: KB