Using Backup Software That Supports DPM

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Published : September 27, 2005

The optimal way to archive the DPM replicas and databases is to use backup software that is specifically designed to work with DPM. The principal advantages of software that supports DPM are that the archived data is organized in a way that makes restore operations intuitive and comparatively simple, and the number of steps involved in archive and restore operations are minimized.

You must back up the database and transaction log files for both the DPM database and the Report database. (Backing up the databases will automatically back up the associated transaction log files.) The following procedures provide general instructions for archiving DPM databases and replicas when using backup software that supports DPM. For instructions about how to use the backup software, see the documentation for the backup software.

To back up databases by using DPM-enabled backup software

  1. In the console tree of the backup program, browse to \Program Files\Microsoft Data Protection Manager\DPM\, and select the DPMDB folder. The file name of the DPM database file is DPMDB2006.mdf. The file name of the transaction log file for this database is DPMDB_log2006.ldf.

  2. In the console tree of the backup program, browse to \Program Files\Microsoft Data Protection Manager\Prerequisites\MSSQL$MICROSOFT$DPM$\, and select the Data folder. The file name of the Report database file will default to ReportServer.mdf. The file name of the transaction log file for this database will default to ReportServer_log.ldf

  3. Select the media to which you want to back up the databases.

  4. Start the backup.

When you use backup software that supports DPM, it interacts with the DPM Writer service and VSS to create a shadow copy of the replica and then create a backup of the shadow copy.

To back up replicas by using DPM-enabled backup software

  1. In the console tree of the backup program, expand DPM server.

  2. Select the file server whose replicas you want to archive or the individual protected volumes.

  3. Select the backup type.

  4. Select the media to which you want to back up the files.

  5. Start the backup.