Re: SQL/ MS 2003 server backups/restores

From: Ron Talmage (rtalmage_at_prospice.com)
Date: 12/16/04 

Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2004 12:17:35 -0800

MP,

It is not considered a good practice to put SQL Server on your domain
controller. Part of the issue is competition for resources, but it's also a
configuration that is not commonly used.

The best way to back up SQL Server is to use SQL's own backup tools to
backup up to files on the SQL Server, and then rely on other backup systems
to back those files up off to tape or NAS, etc.

Ron 

-- 
Ron Talmage
SQL Server MVP
"Mrpush" <Mrpush@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0CF9C2D8-D1F4-46F7-B403-0C49E334B748@microsoft.com...
> Hello,
>
> I'm a bit confused on the backup necessary for my SQL server running on MS
> 2003 server.  My setup is like this:  MS 2003 server setup as domain
> controller, file server, DHCP and DNS and SLQ server installed,  all on
one
> box. (Am I in trouble for this????)
>
> I know I can backup the operating system with BACKUP and do an ARS
> (automated system recovery) with tape drive and startup disk.  I'm aware
that
> this will backup my full system, ACTIVE DIRECTORY (and maybe DHCP and
other
> important role databases???) as long as I include "system state".
>
> However, does this one backup also backup my SQL databases normally so a
> restore would be normal for the entire server including SQL data?
>
> If not, I'll assume I have to do 2 backups for this server, one for the
> system state, OS etc, and another for my SQL databases.  Is this correct?
>
> Are there any other BACKUPS I'll have to do as well?  Just seems like a
lot
> of backing up for a single server.
>
> The way I see it, there are 3 general cases:
>
> 1.)  Corruption of OS files or SQL databases which does not reguire new
> hardware  OR
>
> 2.) Server hardware dies (say 2 disks in my RAID 5) which does not reguire
> new hardware (server) OR
>
> 3.)Server hardware dies (say mother board) and I need to get a new server
> and I'm forced to "rebuild" all the software from scratch.
>
> In the first 2 cases, I could restore from tape and disk created via an
ARS.
>  But will this restore my SQL server install and databases as well?
>
> In the last case, I'm forced to manually re-build the server due to all
new
> hardware.
>
> I'm concerned in that I NEVER read of anyone using ARS, so should I assume
> that its best to just "RE-BUILD"  the server from scratch and then restore
> the necessary databases (active directory etc) and SQL from separate
backups?
>
>
> I'd really like a "catch all" backup, maybe on one tape, to make managment
> easy.  Is this possible or am I dreaming?
>
> Note that my SQL user databases will probably use a FULL weekly, with DIFF
> nightly and Trans logs every 2-4 hours daily.  Is it a MUST that I backup
SQL
> data on separate media or separetly (within SQL) from an OS or ARS backup?
>
>
> Thanks much,
>
> MP