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Part V: Enterprise Data Management
Best Practice
You should back up the databases to a local disk (not the same disk where databases are stored) and
then copy the backup fi les to tape or DVD (for small databases) using the organization’s preferred IT
backup method. This method is the fastest for SQL Server, and it enables the IT shop to continue using
a familiar single-tape backup-software technique.■ (^) Tape: SQL Server can back up directly to most tape-backup devices.
Several companies offer a third-party backup for SQL Server. Although you may fi nd third-party backup useful, it is a
good idea to become familiar with SQL Server's built-in recovery methods before making the decision to use it.
A disk- or tape-backup fi le is not limited to a single backup event. The fi le may contain
multiple backups and multiple types of backups.
Backup Rotation
If the backup fi le is copied to tape, then media retention or rotation, and the off-site
media-storage location, become important.
A common technique is to rotate a set of fi ve tapes for the weekly backups and another set
of six tapes for the remaining daily backups. The weekly tapes would be labeled Sunday1,
Sunday2, and so on, and the daily tapes would be labeled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Palindromes also represent a great method for rotating backup tapes. A palindrome is a
word, phrase, or number that’s the same backward or forward, such as “kayak” or “drab as a
fool, aloof as a bard.”
Using four tapes labeled A through D, a backup rotation might be ABCDCBA ABCDCBA....
Alternatively, you can implement the palindrome method so that each letter represents a
larger interval, such as A for daily, B for weekly, C for monthly, and D for quarterly.
Rotating backup tapes off site is an important aspect of recovery planning. Ideally, a
contract should support an off-site recovery site complete with server and workstations.
Performing Backup with Management Studio
The fi rst backup must be a full database backup to begin the backup chain. You can
perform a database backup from Management Studio, selecting the database to be
backed up. From the database context menu, or from the database Summary Page, select
Tasks ➪ Back Up to open the Back Up Database form, as shown in Figure 21-3.
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