Backing up an active SQL DB with AOF 1

[barny28]

Hello all,
I was wondering if anyone had ever used backup exec 9.0 to back up an active SQL DB with advanced open file option. I was wanting to do this, but you are supposed to have enough HD space on the same volume you are to back up from. I read that you can change the static volume settings to redirect the image to an alternate location. Has anyone had any experience with this? I have an active SQL DB that stays up and busy 24 hours a day, but slows a bit during early morning hours. I was wanting to do the AOF with the static volume redirected, but was wondering about how long it would suspend the DB to send the image to an external USB HD on the network. Any suggestions or experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
barny28

 

[barny28]

Sorry I forgot to mention that the DB is about 130gb when SQL backs itself up---I don't know if SQL's backup uses compression or not. When I try using Veritas to backup SQL's backup, the job goes into queued status and stays there.
Thanks,
barny28

 

[SQLBill]

Won't work. You need the Agent for SQL Server not AOF.

I really suggest using the SQL Server BACKUP DATABASE/LOG commands to backup to hard drive and then use Backup Exec to copy that backup file to tape. That's the way I do it. However, not everyone has the hard drive space to do that. If you can't, you'll need the Agent for SQL Server.

-SQLBill

 

[barny28]

Thanks
I do have SQL server agent installed on the machine, but the DB can not go down for more than 5-10 minutes--I didn't want to run the job with a lock. That's why I wanted to use AOF---I just don't know if the 'snapshot' it takes would suspend the DB until the 'snapshot' is moved to the external HD for backing up. When I try doing a SQL backup with Veritas, it drags the server that I'm backing up from down too much. I was hoping that AOF would alleviate that from happening.

 

[justin2000]

If you are using the SQL agent, the db does not go down at all - the SQL agent gives you the ability to backup the db's whilst they are online.

Read the section in the admin manual regarding the SQl agent and it will tell you what you need to know.

 

[barny28]

I have tried using the SQL agent before---it takes a long time and does not finish. However, if the DB is constantly growing and never stops, will the backup ever stop using the SQL agent? Just wondering.

 

[barny28]

Thanks to SQLBill and Justin2000 for there help. I just got an e-mail from Veritas stating that you can't use AOF on a MS SQL DB. They state that the SQL agent has one built in. They recommended, for the queued status problem, that I create a removeable back-up-to-disk folder (b2d folder) on removeable devices under the devices tab. Skeptically, I tried it and to my surprise, IT WORKED!!
Thanks again guys!

 

[SQLBill]

Glad we could give you information that helped.

-SQLBill