Newbie to SQL 2005 - Backup Strategy Questions

[zoeythecat]

Hi All,

I am new to SQL. We are planning on installing SQL Server 2005 standard this week to support a user database that needs SQL. I needed to develop a backup strategy. I have 2 scenarios I needed to explore. I'm not sure what is the best option.

Scenario 1
Use SQL to create 3 Maintenance plans to do a full backup for the SystemDB, UserDB and Transaction logs. I would run a full-complete backups each night and run transaction log backups throughout the day.

Scenario 2
We have a 3rd party backup solution that uses Netvault software. We purchased the SQL agent which would allow us to run a complete full backup of the databases and transaction logs.

Questions:
(1) Which scenario would be the best solution?
(2) Can I do both scenarios?

I would appreciate any feedback as I am new to SQL and I want to create a proper backup procedure.

Thanks in a advance,
Zoey

 

[pgaliardo]

What we do is use SQL Backup maintenance plans to do native SQL Backups to disk. Depending on the amount of disk space you have, I like to have about a week's worth on the hard drives. If you need to restore, it is a lot faster from disk.

Then we use a third party backup to backup the .bak files created by SQL, this way we have them on tape also, should we need to go back further that 1 week.
We also had the SQL Agent from our third party backup, but had so much trouble with it that we just decided to do it this way.

 

[zoeythecat]

Thanks for that info.

One other question. Are you using the same windows account for your SQL Server Engine and SQL Server Agent? I chose to use one account for all. Is this ok?

Thx

 

[sqlcasey]

yes, it's ok to use the same account for both services.

however, you should read up on selecting the right type of account for your services, and permissions issues

 

[zoeythecat]

Thanks

 

[zoeythecat]

Sorry guys. One other question. Where do I install the license key after the installation? We purchased 25 licenses, and i'm poking around in SQL Server Management Studio and cannot locate where to install this.

Thx

 

[Catadmin]

License key for which software? If you're talking SQL Server license key, it should have asked you for that while you were installing. If it didn't, then you have a version of SQL Server deliberately designed for corporate installs.



Catadmin - MCDBA, MCSA
"No, no. Yes. No, I tried that. Yes, both ways. No, I don't know. No again. Are there any more questions?"
-- Xena, "Been There, Done That"

 

[zoeythecat]

Ok..Thanks for that info. I did not get prompted for a license key during the install. We did purchase a 25user Client Access License and I received an email from Microsoft with this license key. So I just thought it was strange I had nohwere to enter this key.

Thanks

 

[Catadmin]

You're welcome.

BTW, keep that email somewhere safe. You'll need it when you contact MS for support and if you have to do odd things to your server. DO NOT LOSE IT or MS will make you pay for a license all over again...

After all the pirating, they're not very forgiving...



Catadmin - MCDBA, MCSA
"No, no. Yes. No, I tried that. Yes, both ways. No, I don't know. No again. Are there any more questions?"
-- Xena, "Been There, Done That"