Database Maintenance Plan Properties (Complete Backup Page)

When connecting to Microsoft SQL Server 2000 servers, use the Database Maintenance Plan Properties Complete Backup page to automate database backups. 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 database, protecting against data loss in the event of a failure.

  • Back up the database as part of the maintenance plan
    Back up the entire database as part of regular maintenance tasks. Backing up the database is important because of potential system or hardware failure, or because user errors can damage the database, thus requiring a backed-up copy of the database to be restored.
  • 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 database to the specified tape device. The tape device is attached to the computer that contains the SQL Server database being backed up.
  • Disk
    Back up the database to the disk located on the computer containing the SQL Server database 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 that contains the SQL Server database 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 sub-directory for each database
    Create a sub-directory under the specified disk directory that contains the database backup for each database being backed up as part of the maintenance plan.

    Important

    The sub-directory will inherit permissions from the parent directory. Restrict permissions to avoid unauthorized access.

  • Remove files older than
    Automatically delete database backups that are older than the specified period. 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, extending as far back as you eventually may need to restore, depending on business practices.
  • Backup file extension
    Specify the file name extension used for each file containing a database backup. The default file extension is .bak.
  • Schedule
    Set the frequency at which the database backup tasks (scheduled using SQL Server Agent) are executed. The default is every 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

Backing Up and Restoring Databases in SQL Server

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance