Back up a User Profile Service application (SharePoint Server 2010)

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Applies to: SharePoint Server 2010

This article describes how to back up the User Profile Service service application in a Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 deployment. We recommend that you regularly back up at the farm level. However, business or IT requirements might require that you back up the User Profile Service service application. Regularly backing up the User Profile Service service application reduces the possibility of data losses that might occur from hardware failures, power outages, or other problems. It is a simple process that helps to ensure that all service application-related data and configurations are available for recovery, if that is required.

For information about what to back up and which tools to use, see Plan for backup and recovery in SharePoint Server 2010. You can back up all the service applications in the farm by backing up the complete farm. For more information, see Back up a farm in SharePoint Server 2010.

Backing up the User Profile Service service application does not affect the state of the farm. However, it does require resources. Therefore, backing up the service application might affect farm performance while the backup is running. You can avoid performance issues by backing up the service application during hours when farm use is lowest.

Procedures in this topic:

  • To back up the User Profile Service service application by using Windows PowerShell

  • To back up the User Profile Service service application by using Central Administration

  • To back up the User Profile Service service application by using SQL Server tools

Task requirements for backing up a User Profile Service service application

Before you begin, you must create a folder on the local computer or the network in which to store the backups. For better performance, we recommend that you back up to the local computer and then move the backup files to a network folder. For more information about how to create a backup folder, see Prepare to back up and recover (SharePoint Server 2010).

Back up a User Profile Service service application using Windows PowerShell

You can use Windows PowerShell to back up the User Profile Service service application manually or as part of a script that can be run at scheduled intervals.

To back up the User Profile Service service application by using Windows PowerShell

  1. Verify that you meet the following minimum requirements: See Add-SPShellAdmin.

  2. On the Start menu, click All Programs.

  3. Click Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Products.

  4. Click SharePoint 2010 Management Shell.

  5. At the Windows PowerShell command prompt, type the following command:

    Backup-SPFarm -Directory <BackupFolder> -BackupMethod Full -Item "Farm\Shared Services\Shared Services Applications\<ServiceApplicationName>" [-Verbose]

    Where:

    • <BackupFolder> is the path of a folder on the local computer or on the network in which you want to store the backups.

    • <ServiceApplicationName> is the name of the User Profile Service service application that you want to back up.

    Note

    The User Profile Service service application always requires a full backup,

    Note

    You must use the exact name for the service application that you are backing up with Windows PowerShell. To find the service application name in Central Administration, click Manage service applications in the Application Management section.

  6. You must also back up the service application proxy. To do this, at the Windows PowerShell command prompt, type the following command:

    Backup-SPFarm -Directory <BackupFolder> -BackupMethod Full -Item "Farm\Shared Services\Shared Services Proxies\<ServiceApplicationProxyName>" [-Verbose]

    Where:

    • <BackupFolder> is the path of a folder on the local computer or on the network in which you want to store the backups.

    • <ServiceApplicationProxyName> is the name of the User Profile Service service application proxy that you want to back up.

For more information, see Backup-SPFarm.

Note

We recommend that you use Windows PowerShell when performing command-line administrative tasks. The Stsadm command-line tool has been deprecated, but is included to support compatibility with previous product versions.

Back up a User Profile Service service application using Central Administration

You can use Central Administration to back up the User Profile Service service application.

To back up the User Profile Service service application by using Central Administration

  1. Verify that the user account that performs this procedure is a member of the Farm Administrators group.

  2. In Central Administration, on the Home page, in the Backup and Restore section, click Perform a backup.

  3. On the Perform a Backup — Step 1 of 2: Select Component to Back Up page, select the User Profile Service service application from the list of components, and then click Next.

  4. On the Start Backup — Step 2 of 2: Select Backup Options page, in the Backup Type section, select Full.

    Note

    The User Profile Service service application always requires a full backup. You must use the Full option.

  5. In the Backup File Location section, in the Backup location box, type the path of the backup folder, and then click Start Backup.

  6. You must also back up the service application proxy. To do this, in Central Administration, on the Home page, in the Backup and Restore section, click Perform a backup.

  7. On the Perform a Backup — Step 1 of 2: Select Component to Back Up page, select the User Profile Service service application proxy from the list of components, and then click Next.

  8. On the Start Backup — Step 2 of 2: Select Backup Options page, in the Backup Type section, select Full.

  9. In the Backup File Location section, in the Backup location box, type the path of the backup folder, and then click Start Backup.

  10. You can view the general status of all backup jobs at the top of the Backup and Restore Job Status page in the Readiness section. You can view the status for the current backup job in the lower part of the page in the Backup section. The status page updates every 30 seconds automatically. You can manually update the status details by clicking Refresh. Backup and recovery are Timer service jobs. Therefore, it may take several seconds for the backup to start.

    If you receive any errors, you can review them in the Failure Message column of the Backup and Restore Job Status page. You can also find more details in the Spbackup.log file at the UNC path that you specified in step 5.

Back up a User Profile Service service application using SQL Server tools

You cannot back up the entire User Profile Service service application or service application proxy; you must use either Windows PowerShell or Central Administration. However, you can back up all the databases that are associated with the User Profile Service service application.

To back up the databases associated with the User Profile Service service application by using SQL Server tools

  1. Verify that the user account that you use to back up the SharePoint Server 2010 databases is a member of the SQL Server db_backupoperator fixed database role on the database server where each database is stored.

  2. Before you back up the User Profile Service service application databases, you must export the Microsoft Identity Integration Server Key (MIIS) encryption key. You will import this exported key before restoring the databases. By default, the key is on the server running SharePoint Server that is hosting the Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager services in the following directory: <root directory drive>\Program Files\Microsoft Office Servers\14.0\Synchronization Service\Bin. To export the key, type the following at the command prompt, and then press ENTER:

    miiskmu.exe

    Use the Microsoft Identity Integration Server Key Management Utility Wizard to export the key set.

  3. Open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to the database server.

  4. In Object Explorer, expand Databases.

  5. Right-click the database that you want to back up, point to Tasks, and then click Back Up.

  6. In the Back Up Database dialog box, in the Source area, select the kind of backup that you want to perform from the Backup type list, select Full. The User Profile Service service application always requires a full backup.

  7. In the Backup component area, click Database.

  8. Either use the default name provided or specify a name for the backup set in the Name text box.

  9. Specify the expiration date for the backup set. This date determines how long, or when, the backup set can be overwritten by any later backups that have the same name. By default, the backup set is set to never expire (0 days).

  10. In the Destination area, specify where you want to store the backup.

  11. Click OK to back up the database.

  12. Repeat steps 1-10 for each farm database.

See Also

Concepts

Backup SharePoint Server 2010
User Profile service application overview (SharePoint Server 2010)
Windows PowerShell for SharePoint Server 2010 reference
Restore a service application in SharePoint 2010 Products