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 Urgent Backup

Author  Topic 

mikebird
Aged Yak Warrior

529 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-23 : 11:27:24

Please help

So many possibilities with backup. Why not simple?

I just want a .BAK file from Production DB to use on a test job on a seperate server. Both running SQL Server 2000. It's 24Gb and I made it the other day. Trying to make another, fresh copy, it's only 11Gb. I know backups are not full size? Are they economical? Like an MP3? But there are recent 5Gb files of it there. I'm sure I got halfway between 11Gb and 24Gb before... What are the options? What's all the 'family' rubbish? Can you explain?

The 11Gb file since yesterday has risen by about 45Mb, so I'm in the right place.... it's live.

Thanks

sodeep
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7174 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-23 : 11:31:53
So what is your question?
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mikebird
Aged Yak Warrior

529 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-23 : 11:40:08
How do I get a 24Gb .BAK file out of the database?



Each time I do it I get 5Gb, 11Gb and once I got about 15Gb. I do the same thing each time. I get moans about the family
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mikebird
Aged Yak Warrior

529 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-23 : 11:55:26
It was 21,855Mb. That's the best time I made a good backup. When I do a backup now, why is it 11Gb?

Ahhhhhhhh! Have I run out of space?!?!?!??
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mikebird
Aged Yak Warrior

529 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-23 : 12:15:26
No, it's not space. There's a max of about 21Gb on d:\ when I clear down all these .BAK files and maybe that's why 21Gb was the best I ever got of the 24Gb database.

But right now there was that much ready and I just asked for a full backup and I got 11Gb.

What's happening?
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sodeep
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7174 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-23 : 13:20:24
Did you run full backup? It shouldn't vary like that.
Backup are always less than actual database sizes as it contains only used portion of databases files.
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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-23 : 13:36:36
Post the command that you used.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/
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SwePeso
Patron Saint of Lost Yaks

30421 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-23 : 14:19:11
Economical like an MP3?
You are referring if backup set is compressed?

Also backups has to have lossless compression whereas MP3 do not.
They have losses in their compression, and certainly not a feature you want in database backups.


E 12°55'05.25"
N 56°04'39.16"
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rmiao
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7266 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-23 : 22:24:04
You may append multiple backups in same file.
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mikebird
Aged Yak Warrior

529 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-24 : 04:38:55
The main confusion, which won't exist after tomorrow (end of contract, but do want to satisfy) is that I ran the backup of the 24Gb DB. File was 21Gb. No command-line task. I used the GUI. I set the dir & filename and I said DO IT.

Next time, after clearing space, same dir, new filename (datetime) the file was 11Gb. Why?
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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess

38200 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-24 : 11:05:55
Because that's how much it needed.

Tara Kizer
Microsoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Server
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/
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rmiao
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7266 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-24 : 21:29:40
>> I used the GUI. I set the dir & filename and I said DO IT.

Did you choose append file or overwrite file in gui? Default is append.
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mikebird
Aged Yak Warrior

529 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-25 : 04:44:23
Yes, I chose to overwrite when making the backup file, as I had no time for families or complications or time, and no need for history or archiving. Just one file, big as possible, to transfer to test server, and get using. I would delete the files once transferred.

On the restore on test server, force restore option - no append.

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rmiao
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

7266 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-25 : 22:01:53
You can use 'restore verifyonly' to check if backup file is in good shape.
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JCAlexandres
Starting Member

5 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-30 : 10:14:14
Is the recovery model set to ful or simple for that database? The difference in size could be caused by the transaction log.
quote:
Originally posted by mikebird

Yes, I chose to overwrite when making the backup file, as I had no time for families or complications or time, and no need for history or archiving. Just one file, big as possible, to transfer to test server, and get using. I would delete the files once transferred.

On the restore on test server, force restore option - no append.





J.C. Alexandres
IT Professional
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tosscrosby
Aged Yak Warrior

676 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-30 : 12:39:45
quote:
Originally posted by mikebird

The main confusion, which won't exist after tomorrow (end of contract, but do want to satisfy) is that I ran the backup of the 24Gb DB. File was 21Gb. No command-line task. I used the GUI. I set the dir & filename and I said DO IT.

Next time, after clearing space, same dir, new filename (datetime) the file was 11Gb. Why?



Maybe he ran the first time with append and the second time with overwrite. Anyhow, his contract is apparently over so I guess it's become a non-issue. Also, what a great way to leave your former employer, huh?

Terry
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Haywood
Posting Yak Master

221 Posts

Posted - 2008-04-30 : 13:45:57
quote:
Originally posted by tosscrosby

Also, what a great way to leave your former employer, huh?





Meh...some of us make a bit of extra coin cleaning up after those types. I don't mind it, it's usually easy money. ;)
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