Creating a transaction log backup using SnapManager

In the SnapManager main window, click the Backup and Verification tab.

In the left panel, select the databases you want to back up.

When you select a database, SnapManager automatically selects all other databases that reside on the same storage system volume. For information about deselecting any automatically selected databases, see the bullet "Which databases you want to back up" under Job-specific parameters.

When you select databases at the SQL Server instance level, SnapManager will report any offline databases as skipped in the backup report. For more information, see Information you need to specify for a transaction log backup.

In the Types panel, select the Transaction log backup option.

Result

The Options subpanel provides a choice of backup options that pertain to backing up only transaction logs.

If you want the transaction log backup to be followed by a verification, select the "Verify Log Backup upon Completion" option.

If you want to automatically delete older transaction log backups, select the "Delete Oldest Backups In Excess Of" option and select the number of transaction log backups you want to keep.

Selecting this option enables you to manage the number transaction log backups.

If you want to run a command after the backup finishes, select the Run Command After Operation option. This is usually done to archive backups.

Note
If you select this option, SnapManager will prompt you for the details when you are ready to start or schedule the backup operation.

Backup now or schedule for later?

You can either run the backup now or schedule it for later. Click one of the following buttons:

• Backup Now
• Schedule

If the Run Command After Operation dialog box appears, specify the command, and then Click OK to close the dialog box.

For details, see Using the Run Command After Operation dialog box.

To complete this procedure by scheduling the backup:

If the Schedule Job dialog box appears, complete this procedure by scheduling the backup.

For details, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job.

To complete this procedure by starting the backup:

If the Backup Status dialog box appears, do the following:

1. Read the items displayed in the Backup Task List. This list will be used to show the progress of the backup operation after you start it.
2. When you are ready to start the backup operation, click Start Now.

Result

The backup operation is performed, and each item in the Backup Task List is checked off as the task is finished.

• You can toggle the Backup Status dialog box between two different views--Backup Task List view and Backup Report view--by using the Switch button on either view.
• The Backup Report view displays detailed progress information as the backup progresses. You can also print this information by using the Print Report button.
• If the backup is successful, the Backup Task List view shows the check-off list with the tasks completed.
• If Notification is enabled, e-mail is sent and the event is posted to the Windows Application event log.

In the SnapManager for SQL Server main window, click the SnapManager Backup Wizard icon.

Result

The SnapManager Backup Wizard starts and displays the Welcome screen.

Welcome

Click Next.

Result

The Databases to Back Up or Verify screen appears.

Databases to Back Up or Verify

In the left panel, click to select the databases you want to back up, then click Next.

When you select a database, SnapManager automatically selects all other databases that reside on the same storage system volume. For information about deselecting any automatically selected databases, see the bullet "Which databases you want to back up" under Job-specific parameters.

When you select databases at the SQL Server instance level, SnapManager will report any offline databases as skipped in the backup report. For more information, see Information you need to specify for a transaction log backup.

Result

The Back Up or Verify Databases and Transaction Logs screen appears.

Back Up or Verify Databases and Transaction Logs

Select the Back Up Databases and Transaction logs option, and then click Next.

Result

The Backup Type screen appears.

Backup Type

Select the Transaction Log Backup Only option, and then click Next.

Result

The Delete the Oldest Transaction Log Backups screen appears.

Delete the Oldest Transaction Log Backups

Follow the instructions in the remainder of the Backup Wizard screens. The following screens enable you to specify the details of a transaction log backup only:

• Delete the Oldest Transaction Log Backups
• Verify the Transaction Logs in this Backup

  Note
  To view and change the verification settings, click Verification Settings.

• Advanced Backup Options
• Option to Perform SnapMirror Update After Operation

  Note
  This screen appears only if any SQL Server databases or SnapInfo directories reside on a SnapMirror source volume.

• Run a Command After the Operation

For a list of information you need to provide, see Information you need to specify for a transaction log backup.

When to Run this Operation

The When to Run this Operation screen prompts you to choose whether you want the operation to be performed now or scheduled for a later time.

If you want to...

Then...

Run the backup now

Go to Step 8.

Schedule the backup for later

Go to Step 11.

To run the backup now:

If you want to run the backup now, do the following:

1. Leave the Now option selected.
2. Click Next.

Result

The Completing the Backup Wizard screen appears and displays the backup settings you have selected.

After you verify that all the settings in the screen are correct, click Finish.

Result

The Backup Wizard closes and the Backup Status window appears and displays a Backup Task List that will be used to show the progress of the backup operation after you start it.

In the Backup Status window, click Start Now.

Result

The backup is performed and the Snapshot copy is written to the volume.

• The Backup Status dialog box appears and displays a Backup Task List that will be used to show the progress of the backup operation after you start it.
• SnapManager Backup completes each task and checks it off on the list shown in the Backup Task List view.
• You can switch back and forth between the task check-off list and the progress report using the Switch buttons on either view.
• If the backup is successful, the Task window shows the check-off list with the tasks completed.
• If Notification is enabled, e-mail is sent and the event is posted to the Windows Application event log.

To schedule the backup for later:

If you want to schedule the backup for later, do the following:

1. Select the Later option.
2. In the Job Name box, enter a name for this job.
3. If you want this job name to overwrite a job of the same name (if it exists), select the Replace Job if Exists option.
4. Click Next.

For more information, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job.

Result

The Select the Scheduling Service screen appears.

In the Select the Scheduling Service screen, do the following:

1. Choose either SQL Server Agent or Windows Scheduled Tasks.

   For more information, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job.

2. Click Next.

Result

The Completing the Backup Wizard screen appears and displays the backup settings you have selected.

After you verify that all the settings in the window are correct, go to the Completing the Backup Wizard dialog box and click Finish.

Result

The selected scheduler displays a dialog box.

• If you chose to schedule the backup job using the SQL Server Agent, the Properties dialog box appears.
• If you chose to schedule the backup job using Windows Scheduled Tasks, the Schedule Job dialog box appears.

To schedule the job and close the Backup Wizard, do the following:

1. Specify the details of the job.
2. Click OK.