Maintanence Plans for Backups

Hi,

I'm about to setup several backup stategies for several different SQL
Servers.  I'm planning on using Full and T-log backups for the databases
using Maintanence Plans.  I've been advised not to use Differential backups
because of space requirements.  Any advantage to using custom scripts to
perform backups for databases and t-logs as opposed to using the jobs
created with Maintanence Plans?  I.e., any issues with using Maintanence
Plans for backups?

Thanks

Jerry

Jerry,

If you are already worried about having enough space to store your backups
and you haven't even started yet you are in trouble.  Disk space is way too
cheap to be dealing with issues like that.  Are you going to sacrifice your
recoverability due to lack of disk space?  Not saying you absolutely need to
do differential backups or not but deciding based on disk space is not the
way to go about it.  You should look into using SQL LiteSpeed for your
backups then.  It can cut down the time and disk space required by as much
as 80% in some cases.  Personally I don't like to use the MP as it is too
inflexible for many of my clients and when there is a problem it can be
difficult to figure out exactly what is happening.

--
Andrew J. Kelly  SQL MVP


"Jerry Spivey" <jspivey@vestas-awt.com> wrote in message
news:%236dmz$vYFHA.3320@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> I'm about to setup several backup stategies for several different SQL
> Servers.  I'm planning on using Full and T-log backups for the databases
> using Maintanence Plans.  I've been advised not to use Differential
> backups because of space requirements.  Any advantage to using custom
> scripts to perform backups for databases and t-logs as opposed to using
> the jobs created with Maintanence Plans?  I.e., any issues with using
> Maintanence Plans for backups?
>
> Thanks
>
> Jerry
>

Andrew,

Good points.  However I can only make suggestions on HW/SW purchases not cut
the check.  I agree we do need more disk space available for local backups
as well as remote storage prior to copying to tape for offsite storage.  I'm
currently analyzing our current disaster recovery strategy to make
suggestions for improvement and additional hard drive space will certainly
be one of them.  Most of the databases are very small for the industry so
the speed and size of the backups are not so much of an issue as the lack of
additional space is...i.e., another few drives and we should be fine.

I think MPs will work for what we are doing...just wanted to know if anyone
out there had experienced any issues with them before we move in that
direction as opposed to creating custom scripts in jobs.

Thanks for the input though.

Have a killer holiday!

J


"Andrew J. Kelly" < sqlmvpnooospam@shadh
awk.com> wrote in message
news:OD40V7wYFHA.2884@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Jerry,
>
> If you are already worried about having enough space to store your backups
> and you haven't even started yet you are in trouble.  Disk space is way
> too cheap to be dealing with issues like that.  Are you going to sacrifice
> your recoverability due to lack of disk space?  Not saying you absolutely
> need to do differential backups or not but deciding based on disk space is
> not the way to go about it.  You should look into using SQL LiteSpeed for
> your backups then.  It can cut down the time and disk space required by as
> much as 80% in some cases.  Personally I don't like to use the MP as it is
> too inflexible for many of my clients and when there is a problem it can
> be difficult to figure out exactly what is happening.
>
> --
> Andrew J. Kelly  SQL MVP
>
>
> "Jerry Spivey" <jspivey@vestas-awt.com> wrote in message
> news:%236dmz$vYFHA.3320@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl... 
>
>

Although there is a group of people who do not particularly care for Maint
plans, I think it would be fine for you to start with them...
If you have a problem ( like overlapping times between the different tasks),
things may die and it might be difficult to figure out..

However if you have overlapping tasks w/o MPs you will get the same
problem...

I would suggest you do something today ( like MPs), and then move to
something more sophistaced when/if you see any problems...

--
Wayne Snyder, MCDBA, SQL Server MVP
Mariner, Charlotte, NC
www.mariner-usa.com
(Please respond only to the newsgroups.)

I support the Professional Association of SQL Server (PASS) and it's
community of SQL Server professionals.
www.sqlpass.org

"Jerry Spivey" <jspivey@vestas-awt.com> wrote in message
news:%236VZvGxYFHA.3624@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Andrew,
>
> Good points.  However I can only make suggestions on HW/SW purchases not
> cut the check.  I agree we do need more disk space available for local
> backups as well as remote storage prior to copying to tape for offsite
> storage.  I'm currently analyzing our current disaster recovery strategy
> to make suggestions for improvement and additional hard drive space will
> certainly be one of them.  Most of the databases are very small for the
> industry so the speed and size of the backups are not so much of an issue
> as the lack of additional space is...i.e., another few drives and we
> should be fine.
>
> I think MPs will work for what we are doing...just wanted to know if
> anyone out there had experienced any issues with them before we move in
> that direction as opposed to creating custom scripts in jobs.
>
> Thanks for the input though.
>
> Have a killer holiday!
>
> J
>
>
> "Andrew J. Kelly" < sqlmvpnooospam@shadh
awk.com> wrote in message
> news:OD40V7wYFHA.2884@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl... 
>
>