Back up and restore SQL Server database files

If you do not use third-party storage management systems, Siemens Digital Industries Software recommends that you use the SQL Servers Enterprise Manager or T-SQL backup/restore scripts to perform the hot backup and recovery operations on the database. MS SQL Server supports online (hot) backups from Enterprise Manager that can back up, restore, and recover database files. This is a feature of the MS SQL Database Server and does not require separate installation. Procedure Open the SQL Enterprise Manager by clicking Start→All Programs→Microsoft SQL Server→Enterprise Manager. Expand the SQL Server Group to view all existing servers. Expand the required SQL Server. Expand Databases to list the available databases. Right-click the required database and select All Tasks→Backup Database…/Restore Database…. Click Backup Database to start the database backup process. The SQL Server Backup dialog box is displayed. On the General tabbed page, choose a type of backup from the Backup options. After you create a complete database backup (using the Database-complete option), you must also create a Transaction log backup. To do this, open the SQL Server Backup dialog box and select the Transaction log backup option. Select the destination (tape or disk) for the backup. A backup device is a location that stores backup files. A backup file can hold multiple backups. If this is the first backup of your database, create a backup device by performing the following steps: Click Add. The Backup Destination dialog box is displayed. Type a name for the backup in the Name box. The database name with a .bak extension is used as the default name for the backup. Click File Name (backup device). Define the appropriate path for the file. Click OK. The SQL Server Backup dialog box is displayed again. Select the device or file you created from the Destination list. Select the appropriate overwrite option for your backup. You can use this option to add multiple backups to file or device or to overwrite previous backups with the most current backup. Warning Selecting the Schedule box automates the database backup process. Siemens Digital Industries Software does not recommend using this option, because it only backs up the database. It does not automate the backup of volumes. Click OK. The SQL Server Backup dialog box is displayed. Click the Options tab. Select the options that are appropriate for your organization. Click OK. A message is displayed indicating successful completion of the backup operation.