How can I backup SQL Server databases?

How can I backup SQL Server databases?

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The answer can be summarized as follows:

· Create a sub-account for each database server.

· Login to each database server as a user that has rights to read the database files.

· Install and configure Data Protection on each database server.

· Add the folder containing your database files (*.mdf and *.ldf) to the backup.

· Change the database recovery model to Simple. More information on why this is required is available here.

· With the database recovery model set to Simple you do not need to use the backup functionality of SQL Server, as long as Data Protection is successfully backing up your database on a regular basis.

Data Protection will automatically perform differential, hot backups of your database. If using the Simple recovery model does not meet your needs then you should configure Data Protection to backup the directory where SQL Server places its backup files. More information on SQL Server recovery models is available here.

Procedure to change the database recovery model to simple:

1. Start SQL Server Enterprise Manager.

2. Navigate to each database that you are backing up.

3. Right-click each database and choose Properties.

4. Click the Options tab.

5. Under Recovery, set the model to Simple.