Verifying Backup

[rodentcentre]

OS: Windows 2003 Server
DB: SQL Server 2000

I have a few SQL jobs that run every hour to backup transaction logs and then a daily database backup that backs up all the databases on the server (master, model, tempdb, etc.) to tape. My question is how do I verify that the tape contains the logs and the backup files? I tried to plug one of the tapes into a tape drive connected to a different server that is running Veritas BackupExec and tried to view the contents of the tape but it did not show anything. Thanks.

 

[JayKusch]

Thats is more of a question for a Veritas forum. But you should be able to veiw the contents of the tape and see what is on there.

Most DBAs back up their DBs to disc and then back them up to tape. In this case, you would be able to see the file names of the TLog and DB backups since they are user defined when you create them.



Thanks

J. Kusch

 

[JayKusch]

The other reason we spool backups to disc first is that it is MUCH quicker to do a restore from disc than it is from tape.

Thanks

J. Kusch

 

[goodgosh]

How do I view the contents of a backup completed per the Activity Monitor?

Thomas Hannah - JEA

 

[JayKusch]

There really is now way, within SQL Server to see the contents of a backfile beyond the header information.

Thanks

J. Kusch