Database Maintenance Plan Properties (Transaction Log Backup Page)

When connecting to Microsoft SQL Server 2000 servers, use the Database Maintenance Plan Properties Transaction Log Backup page to automate backups of the transaction log. New database maintenance plans cannot be created with SQL Server Management Studio. Use Enterprise Manager instead. Database maintenance plans cannot be created on Microsoft SQL Server 2005. Use maintenance plans instead.

Use this page to make backup copies of the transaction log, protecting against data loss in the event of a failure.

  • Back up the transaction log of the database as part of the maintenance plan
    Back up the transaction log as part of regular maintenance tasks. Backing up the transaction log is important in case the database must be restored to a specific point in time. Selecting this option makes the following options available.
  • Verify the integrity of the backup upon completion
    Check that the backup set is complete and that all volumes are accessible if you execute the Transact-SQL statement, RESTORE VERIFYONLY.
  • Tape
    Back up the transaction log to the specified tape device. The tape device is attached to the computer that contains the SQL Server transaction log that is being backed up.
  • Disk
    Back up the transaction log to the disk located on the computer that contains the SQL Server transaction log being backed up.
  • Use the default backup directory
    Back up the database to the Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\BACKUP disk directory located on the computer running the instance of SQL Server being backed up.
  • Use this directory
    Back up the database to the specified disk directory located on the computer that contains the SQL Server database being backed up. Click the browse (...) button to change the default disk directory used to back up the database. You can select drives only on the computer that contains the SQL Server database that is being backed up.
  • Create a subdirectory for each database
    Create a subdirectory under the specified disk directory that contains the database backup for each database being backed up as part of the maintenance plan.
  • Remove files older than
    Delete database backups that are older than the specified period automatically. We recommend that you maintain a history of database backups in the event that the database must be restored to a point in time earlier than the last performed backup. Retain as many backups as disk space allows and as far in the past from which you may need to restore, depending on business practices.
  • Backup file extension
    Specify the file name extension used for each file containing the database backup. The default file extension is .bak.
  • Schedule
    Set the frequency at which the transaction log backup tasks (scheduled using SQL Server Agent) are executed. The default is every day, except Sunday, at 12:00 midnight.
  • Change
    Display the Edit Recurring Job Schedule dialog box, where you can change the default schedule

See Also

Reference

Database Maintenance Plans

Other Resources

Creating Transaction Log Backups

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance