Re: SMS Backup

More ammunution :-)

The SMS backup shuts down SMS so the backup get has all the files and SQL
data you need in sync at one point in time. Having the DB backup separtely
while SMS is up and changing the files is asking for restore problems. I too
have used the SMS backup 'as is' to move sites to new hardware so I know it
works.

John

"Kim Oppalfens [MVP]" <""Kim dot Oppalfen" wrote:


Time to put him back in his place:

From
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sms/2003/library/spmbrsms03/spmbr01.mspx

In short, just backing up the database from within sql is worthless,
trying to recover from such a backup has a pretty decent change of
corrupting your entire hierarchy.

Backing Up Sites
When an SMS site fails, it is important that you are able to quickly
recover that site with as little data loss as possible.

Backing up sites in your hierarchy is the most important step to ensure
a minimum data loss, and a successful recovery in case of a site
failure. Although it is possible to recover sites without a backup
snapshot, recovering a site with a backup snapshot ensures the least
data loss and a less complex recovery process.

Having a recent site backup snapshot does the following:

• Simplifies a recovery operation

• Shortens the non-operational time of the site

• Helps reduce the amount of data lost


SMS stores most of the site data in the registry, in system files, and
in Microsoft SQL Server™ databases. For SMS to function properly, data
integrity and synchronization, among all data stores, is an absolute
necessity. Therefore, when backing up a site, it is necessary to back up
all those data stores as a snapshot.

Caution
Backing up only one of these data stores (such as the SMS site database)
is not sufficient as a backup strategy. You cannot recover a site using
a partial site backup because the site’s data will be out of synch.
Also, you cannot use the System Restore feature in the Microsoft Windows
Server™ 2003 family to recover a site because it does not restore all
necessary data.




Nick SMS Administrator - Detroit wrote:
Thanks Garth!

I figured what you said to be true. I'm only asking because an
administrator who is new to my dept. questioned me publicly about my backups
and stated that I have not been backing up the SMS database. He mentioned
this in an email to my higher-ups in an attempt to make him look good, and in
the process making me look like my disaster recovery plan wasn't in place.
He rudely created some SQL backup routines on my server without my knowledge
or permission and then sent the email out. I new the SMS Site Backup task
was everything I need for a backup but wanted a second opinion before I rebut.

Thank you.

"Garth" wrote:

The SMS backup includes everything you need to restore you SMS server. Yes,
that included the hardware inventory, subnet,etc.

So always make sure that it is working and life is good.

"Nick SMS Administrator - Detroit, Mi"
<NickSMSAdministratorDetroitMi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:62899EEC-28F1-422B-B95E-67E725A2B02F@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Garth,
Thanks for your response.

Do you know if this includes the client data (hardware inventory, subnet
information, etc...) as well as the site structure (collection
information,
boundaries, etc...)?

-Nick-


"Garth" wrote:

It should be.
Within your SMS Backup directory you should see "SiteDBServer" and within
that you should see your SMS database backup.


"Nick SMS Administrator - Detroit, Mi"
<NickSMSAdministratorDetroitMi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
message
news:8E6A634E-2665-4C37-AF0A-4F86B67CCA07@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Is the SQL Database for SMS included in the default site maintenance
task
named "Backup SMS Site Server"?






--
"Everyone is an expert at something"
Kim Oppalfens - Sms Expert for lack of any other expertise
Windows Server System MVP - SMS
http://www.blogcastrepository.com/blogs/kim_oppalfenss_systems_management_ideas/default.aspx

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: SMS Backup
    ... In short, just backing up the database from within sql is worthless, trying to recover from such a backup has a pretty decent change of corrupting your entire hierarchy. ... When an SMS site fails, it is important that you are able to quickly recover that site with as little data loss as possible. ...
    (microsoft.public.sms.admin)
  • Re: Problem with sms backup and variable for SQL directory
    ... The SMS backup task seems to assume ... same directory structure (which is the default during SQL installation). ... Comment out this line in smsbkup.ctl (ie. do not backup these files under ... > SMS Site Backup was unable to back up file system object ...
    (microsoft.public.sms.admin)
  • Re: SMS SQL DB backup
    ... That is very helpful as I was not aware of sync ... So I guess what I am wondering then as if the SQL server ... way to get that back would be either back up SMS very often so as to ... > for SQL and use SMS's builtin backup task. ...
    (microsoft.public.sms.admin)
  • Re: Question: Difference in Database in SiteBackup and SQL backup
    ... With the SMS backup task you will not only get a backup of the SQL database ...
    (microsoft.public.sms.admin)
  • Re: SMS 2003 SP2 and SQL 2000
    ... With SMS you don't need to backup the SMS database separately. ... You should check you SMS backup to ensure that it is backing up your site as this is the only supported way to restore your site server. ... I then went into SQL Enterprise Manager and connected to the SMS database. ...
    (microsoft.public.sms.admin)
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