Scheduling Backups of the System Databases

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

It is important to back up the master and msdb databases any time they change. At a minimum, it is recommended that you perform monthly backups of the system databases.

Master database changes occur as a result of:

  • Adding logins or other login security-related operations in SQL Server 2000.

  • Changing any server-wide or database configurations.

  • Creating or removing logical backup devices.

  • Configuring the server for distributed queries and remote procedure calls, such as adding linked servers or SQL Server 2000 remote logins.

Msdb database changes occur as a result of:

  • Scheduling tasks.

  • Storing Data Transformation Services (DTS) packages created by using the DTS Import/Export Wizard to an instance of SQL Server.

  • Maintaining online backup and restore history.

  • Replicating.

You can schedule backups of the master and msdb databases by using the Database Maintenance Plan Wizard procedure for scheduling full database backups and substituting the appropriate database on the Select databases page. For more information about this procedure, see “Scheduling Full Database Backups by Using the Database Maintenance Plan Wizard” earlier in this topic.