Creating Full and Differential Backups of a SQL Server Database

Creating the correct backups is essential to a successful backup-and-restore strategy. The topics in this section describe how to create the various types of data and differential backups.

In This Section

Topic Description

Full Database Backups

Describes how to use full database backups and differential database backups.

Partial Backups

Describes how to use partial backups and differential partial backups.

Full File Backups

Describes how to use file backups and differential file backups.

Using Differential Backups

Describes the restrictions on using differential backups under the simple recovery model, the backup upon which a differential backup is based, and the conditions under which a file that is created after the differential base is included in new differential backups.

Backing Up Read-Only Databases

Describes partial backups after changing a database to read-write access and differential backups of a read-only database.

Copy-Only Backups

Describes copy-only backups. Copy-only backups are isolated backups that are intended as special-purpose additions to regularly scheduled conventional backups.

Note

For information about how to schedule backup jobs for a database, see Maintenance Plan Wizard.

See Also

Concepts

Security Considerations for Backup and Restore
Backup Overview (SQL Server)
Working with Transaction Log Backups

Other Resources

Backing Up and Restoring Full-Text Catalogs
Backing Up and Restoring Databases and Transaction Logs
Backing Up and Restoring Replicated Databases
Implementing Restore Scenarios for SQL Server Databases
Working with Restore Sequences for SQL Server Databases

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance