Additional backup of specific SQL DBs for GFS Archive.

[ConradGoodman]

I have a requirement which seems difficult to achieve with VBR 10.0.

I have a physical Windows server running MS SQL Server, let's call it MSSQL01.

This server is backed up in full on a daily schedule.

On this server, are 10 databases, of which 3 have a requirement to have GFS backup retention for X number of years in object storage.

These 3 databases total 500GB, the entire server totals 5TB.

Hence it is imperative that only these 3 databases are backed up to GFS points in object storage, whilst retaining the full image backup of the server in the short term.

A way of doing this could be:


Create a fresh daily backup job, with GFS retention.

Under guest processing, Processing Settings -> Exclusions.

Include only the following files and folders:

specify a folder with the MDF/LDF files for these 3 databases and their logs.

On the original full image backup job:

Under guest processing, Processing Settings -> Exclusions.

Exclude the following files and folders:

specify a folder with the MDF/LDF files for these 3 databases and their logs.

Would this work as I am expecting? That the databases included are backed up using SQL VSS writer, and the rest of the filesystem is therefore excluded and the new job is only around half a TB?

Is there another way I should be achieving this?

[HannesK]

Hello,

specify a folder with the MDF/LDF files for these 3 databases and their logs.

this works, yes. File based backup just for the folders you need.

You can also do it the other way round and work with exclusions. I assume that a SQL server does not have too many files, that VSS exclusions become a limitation. https://www.veeam.com/kb3236

Actually I don't see the exclusion settings you mention for agent jobs. I only have them for VM based jobs.

Best regards,
Hannes