UNC path for backups

I have a GUI (MS Access Application) which allows the user to choose the
backup path (network or local) for the database (SQL Server 200 SP4). If it
is a mapped drive, then that value (which is a "drive" not "UNC" path) gets
stored in the table and a stored procedure accesses this value to do the
backup.

From all the postings, I have learnt that this is not a good way to do
backups to network. So here is my question: How can I store the UNC value in
the database table from the GUI? All I can see from the GUI is the mapped
drive and not the UNC. Can this be done in SQL Server itself? Any help is
appreciated. Thanks

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555128

The concepts should translate directly.  If you can't enter a UNC name
directly, then you need to update/replace the application.

--
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP


"KMP" <KMP@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:139B45E1-F4D0-4514-BBDF- D4D5A5CE379C@microso
ft.com...
>
> I have a GUI (MS Access Application) which allows the user to choose the
> backup path (network or local) for the database (SQL Server 200 SP4). If
> it
> is a mapped drive, then that value (which is a "drive" not "UNC" path)
> gets
> stored in the table and a stored procedure accesses this value to do the
> backup.
>
> From all the postings, I have learnt that this is not a good way to do
> backups to network. So here is my question: How can I store the UNC value
> in
> the database table from the GUI? All I can see from the GUI is the mapped
> drive and not the UNC. Can this be done in SQL Server itself? Any help is
> appreciated. Thanks

A UNC path can be stored in a database table like any other character
string.  You can use WMI to enumerate drives on the remote SQL Server as
well as list servers and shares on your network.  I don't know much about
Access but I presume there are techniques to render this information for
backup folder selection.

--
Hope this helps.

Dan Guzman
SQL Server MVP

"KMP" <KMP@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:139B45E1-F4D0-4514-BBDF- D4D5A5CE379C@microso
ft.com...
>
> I have a GUI (MS Access Application) which allows the user to choose the
> backup path (network or local) for the database (SQL Server 200 SP4). If
> it
> is a mapped drive, then that value (which is a "drive" not "UNC" path)
> gets
> stored in the table and a stored procedure accesses this value to do the
> backup.
>
> From all the postings, I have learnt that this is not a good way to do
> backups to network. So here is my question: How can I store the UNC value
> in
> the database table from the GUI? All I can see from the GUI is the mapped
> drive and not the UNC. Can this be done in SQL Server itself? Any help is
> appreciated. Thanks

Use UNC not mapped drives, and ensure MSSQLSERVER is running under a service
account that is in your domain and has the ACL (NTFS privileges dialog) set
appropriately on folders, or parents, you need to write to. Without the
service account with the approprate folder permissions, you will not be able
to write to the said network folders.

--
Andy Price,
Sr. Database Administrator,
MCDBA 2003


"KMP" wrote:

>
> I have a GUI (MS Access Application) which allows the user to choose the
> backup path (network or local) for the database (SQL Server 200 SP4). If i
t
> is a mapped drive, then that value (which is a "drive" not "UNC" path) get
s
> stored in the table and a stored procedure accesses this value to do the
> backup.
>
> From all the postings, I have learnt that this is not a good way to do
> backups to network. So here is my question: How can I store the UNC value 
in
> the database table from the GUI? All I can see from the GUI is the mapped
> drive and not the UNC. Can this be done in SQL Server itself? Any help is
> appreciated. Thanks

Thank you all for your suggestions. It was very useful.

"Andy Price" wrote:

> Use UNC not mapped drives, and ensure MSSQLSERVER is running under a servi
ce
> account that is in your domain and has the ACL (NTFS privileges dialog) se
t
> appropriately on folders, or parents, you need to write to. Without the
> service account with the approprate folder permissions, you will not be ab
le
> to write to the said network folders.
>
> --
> Andy Price,
> Sr. Database Administrator,
> MCDBA 2003
>
>
> "KMP" wrote:
>