SnapManager provides two ways for you to start or schedule a transaction log backup: using the SnapManager Backup wizard or using the Backup and Verify option. You can also configure how many transaction log backups your system retains in the Up-to-the-minute Restore Ability Settings window.
A backup of only transaction logs is specified using a combination of parameters.
Job-specific parametersEach time you start or schedule a transaction-log-only backup, a full database backup must exist for that database. You can specify the following information in either the Backup and Verification option or in the Backup wizard:
When you select one database, SnapManager automatically selects all other databases that are located on the same Data ONTAP storage volume. You can clear databases that reside on different storage from the databases you selected. For example:
When you select databases at the SQL Server instance level and one of the selected databases cannot be backed up for an unexpected reason (such as the database being offline or in a loading state at the time of the backup), the transaction-log-only backup operation happens as follows:
When backup is scheduled for future, existing backups are not deleted unless some of the databases in the server instance are first moved to the local disk.
If the databases are moved to the local disk later, the scheduled backup operation skips backup deletion. The backup is re-created and rescheduled so that for future operations, backups are deleted first.
For a description of this option, see "Automatic deletion of the oldest backups in a management group" in Ways to manage the number of backup sets kept online.
This feature is frequently used to archive the backup.
For more information about this option, see Replicating backups to mirrored volumes.
Backup settings The following list summarizes the backup settings that pertain to a transaction-log-only backup. These settings enable tasks that can be performed after the transaction log backup finishes successfully.
The Backup settings help you determine the following:
The preceding options are configured using the Transaction Log Backup option of the SnapManager for SQL Server-Backup dialog box, described in "Configuring the profile of a transaction log backup" in SnapManager backup options.
The SnapManager for SQL Server-Backup dialog box can be accessed from the Backup and Verify option, as well as from the Backup wizard.
For more details, see "Configuring the profile of a transaction log backup" in SnapManager backup options.
To start or schedule a backup of only transaction logs using the Backup and Verify option, complete the following steps. If you want to back up transaction logs automatically after a full database backup is complete, see Backing up, replicating, and archiving databases using SnapManager instead.
Step | Action | |
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1 | In the SnapManager console root, click the Backup and Verify option. |
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2 | In the Results pane, select the databases you want to backup. When you select a database, SnapManager automatically selects all other databases that reside on the same storage system volume. For information about deselecting any automatically selected databases, see the bullet "Which databases you want to backup" under "Job-specific parameters" in Managing transaction log backups using SnapManager. When you select databases at the SQL Server instance level, SnapManager reports any offline databases as skipped in the backup report. For more information, see "Information you need to specify when creating a transaction log backup" in Managing transaction log backups using SnapManager. |
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3 | In the SnapManager for SQL Server-Backup dialog box, select the "Transaction log backup" option. Result SnapManager provides a choice of backup options that pertain to backing up only transaction logs. |
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4 | Optional: To add databases from remote servers or from different SQL instances on the same server to this transaction log backup job, click the Federated Backup button.
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5 | If you want the transaction log backup to be followed by a verification, select the "Verify log backup upon completion" option. |
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6 | If you want to automatically delete older transaction log backups, select the "Delete log backups in excess of" option and select the number of transaction log backups you want to keep. Note: If
you select the "Delete log backups in excess of" check box and you do
not select the check box "Create snapshot of SnapInfo drive after backup",
SnapManager for SQL Server will override the option to create a
Snapshot copy of the SnapInfo drive and will automatically create
a snapshot of the SnapInfo drive.
Selecting this option enables you to manage the number transaction log backups. |
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7 | If you want to automatically delete transaction log backups older than a specified number of days, select the "Delete log backups in older than" option and select the number of days. Selecting this option enables you to manage the number transaction log backups. |
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8 | If you want to run a command after the backup finishes, select the Run Commands option. This is usually done to archive backups. Note: If you select this option, SnapManager prompts you
for the details when you are ready to start or schedule the backup
operation.
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Back up now or schedule for later | ||
9 | You can either run the backup now or schedule it for later. Click one of the following buttons:
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To complete this procedure by scheduling the backup: | ||
10 | If the Schedule Job dialog box appears, complete this procedure by scheduling the backup. For details, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job. |
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To complete this procedure by starting the backup: | ||
11 | If the Backup Status dialog box appears, do the following:
Result The backup operation is performed, and each item in the Backup Task List is checked off as the task is complete.
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To start or schedule a backup of only transaction logs using the Backup wizard, complete the following steps.
Step | Action | |
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1 | In the SnapManager for SQL Server console root, click the SnapManager Backup Wizard option in the Actions pane. Result The SnapManager Backup Wizard starts and displays the Welcome screen. |
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Welcome | ||
2 | Click Next. Result The Databases to Backup or Verify screen appears. |
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Databases to Backup or Verify | ||
3 | In the left panel, click to select the databases you want to backup, and then click Next. When you select a database, SnapManager automatically selects all other databases that reside on the same storage system volume. For information about deselecting any automatically selected databases, see the bullet "Which databases you want to backup" under "Job-specific parameters" in Managing transaction log backups using SnapManager. When you select databases at the SQL Server instance level, SnapManager reports any offline databases as skipped in the backup report. For more information, see "Information you need to specify when creating a transaction log backup" in Managing transaction log backups using SnapManager. Result The Backup or Verify Databases and Transaction Logs screen appears. |
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Back up or Verify Databases and Transaction Logs | ||
4 | Select the Backup Databases and Transaction logs option, and then click Next. Result The SQL Server backup type screen appears. |
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SQL Server backup Type | ||
5 | Select the Transaction log backup only option, and then click Next. Result The "Delete the oldest transaction log backups" screen appears. |
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Delete the oldest transaction log backups | ||
6 | Follow the instructions in the remainder of the Backup wizard screens. The following screens enable you to specify the details of a transaction log backup only:
Note: To
view and change the verification settings, click Verification Settings.
Note: This
screen appears only if any SQL Server databases or SnapInfo directories
reside on a SnapMirror source volume.
For a list of information you need to provide, see "Information you need to specify when creating a transaction log backup" in Managing transaction log backups using SnapManager. |
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Backup Finish | ||
7 | The Backup Finish screen prompts you to choose whether you want the operation to be performed now or scheduled for a later time. |
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If you want to... | Then... | |
Run the backup now |
Go to Step 9. |
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Schedule the backup for later |
Go to Step 11. |
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To run the backup now: | ||
8 | If you want to run the backup, click Finish. Result The Backup Status screen appears and displays the backup settings you have selected. |
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9 | In the Backup Status window, click Start Now. Result The backup is performed.
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To schedule the backup for later: | ||
10 | If you want to schedule the backup for later, do the following:
For more information, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job. |
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11 | Under "Select the Scheduling Service to Create Job," select either SQL Server Agent or Windows Scheduled Tasks. For more information, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job. |
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12 | Click OK. If your backup job is not scheduled, you are taken to the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio for scheduling. |
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13 | After the job is scheduled, SnapManager takes you out of the Backup wizard. |
Configuring the number of transaction log backups your system retains enables you to balance up-to-the-minute restore needs with storage efficiency. The more transaction log backups your system retains, the more complete your up-to-the-minute restores can be, but the less efficient your storage is because of the amount of storage consumed.
To configure the number of transaction log backups your system retains, complete the following steps.
Step | Action | |
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1 | In the SnapManager console root, double-click the server you want to use. |
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2 | Select the Backup option in the Scope pane. |
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3 | In the Actions pane, click Backup and Verify. |
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4 | In the Backup Settings pane, click Up-to-minute Restore Options. Result: The Retain Up-to-minute Restore Ability Settings window opens. |
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5 | In the Retain Up-to-minute Restore Ability Settings window, choose from the three available options. |
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Option | Description | |
Backups generated in the last [days] |
Retains all transaction log backups generated during the number of days you define; automatically deletes logs older than the defined limit. |
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The most recent [number of backups] |
Retains a set number of the most recent transaction log backups; automatically deletes logs exceeding the defined limit. |
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All the older backups [Do Not delete any logs] |
Retains all transaction log backups. |
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6 | Choose whether to run the backup now or schedule it for later by clicking the applicable button: |
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Schedule |
Go to Step 7. |
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Backup Now |
Go to Step 8. |
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To schedule the backup: | ||
7 | Follow the instructions in Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job. |
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To back up the database now: | ||
8 | Read the items displayed in the Backup Task List. This list shows the progress of the backup operation after you start it. |
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9 | When you are ready to start the backup operation, click Start Now. Result The backup operation is performed, and each item in the Backup Task List is checked off as the task is completed.
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