Overview - SQL Backup

SQL Backup comprises two main parts:

• The SQL Backup graphical user interface (GUI) for setting up and monitoring your backup and restore jobs.

  The GUI is not licensed and can be installed on as many computers as you wish. You can install only one version of the SQL Backup GUI on each computer. To check which version of the graphical user interface is installed, from the Help menu select About SQL Backup.

• The SQL Backup server components installed on each SQL Server instance (or on each node of a clustered instance).

  This is the licensed part of SQL Backup and contains the SQL Backup extended stored procedures and the SQL Backup Agent Service. You can install only one version of the SQL Backup server components on each SQL Server instance. To check which version of the server components is installed, in the SQL Backup GUI select the server, then from the Edit menu select Properties.

Note that the version numbers of the SQL Backup GUI and and server components may differ. The latest version numbers are posted on the SQL Backup forum.

Installation process

Before you start installing or upgrading, check the Technical requirements to confirm that your systems are compatible with SQL Backup.

Whether you are installing SQL Backup for the first time, or upgrading an existing installation, the basic process is the same:

1. Install or upgrade the SQL Backup graphical user interface (GUI).

   For details, see Installing or upgrading the graphical user interface.

2. Use the GUI to register the SQL Server instances on which you want to use SQL Backup.

   For details, see Adding SQL Server instances.

3. Install or upgrade the SQL Backup server components on the SQL Server instances as necessary.

   You can use the graphical user interface to do this, or you can run the setup wizard manually. Both methods are described in Installing or upgrading on a SQL Server instance.

   Note that if you are installing or upgrading the server components on a SQL Server cluster, you must run the setup wizard manually. For details see Installing on a SQL Server cluster.

   When you have installed or upgraded the SQL Backup server components, if your license has not already been activated on the relevant servers, the instances are displayed in trial mode .

4. Activate the licenses on the SQL Server instances as necessary.

   For details, see Activating SQL Backup.

SQL Backup quality improvement program

SQL Backup can automatically send anonymous information about the features you use to Red Gate. This information helps Red Gate improve the reliability and performance of SQL Backup and decide which new features to add and bug fixes to prioritize.

When you run the SQL Backup graphical user interface for the first time, you are given the option to participate in the quality improvement program. If you choose not to participate, SQL Backup will not send any usage data back to Red Gate.

If you later change you mind about participating in the quality improvement program, you can change your participation status by following these instructions on the SQL Backup Support Center.

Licensing

You can add any SQL Server instance to the SQL Backup GUI, but you must have a license for each server on which you want to use the backup and restore features.

Note that the trial version offers the same features as a licensed version of SQL Backup.

Details of how you add SQL Server instances to the SQL Backup GUI are provided in Adding SQL Server instances.

Details of how you activate SQL Backup on a SQL Server once you have purchased a license are provided in Activating SQL Backup.

Technical requirements

Microsoft SQL Server support

SQL Backup supports 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft SQL Server 2012 and 32-bit, 64-bit, and Itanium versions of Microsoft SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2000. The following editions are supported:

• Business Intelligence Edition (SQL Server 2012)
• Developer Edition
• Enterprise Edition
• Standard Edition
• Web Edition
• Workgroup Edition

SQL Backup provides limited support for SQL Server Express Edition; the SQL Backup graphical user interface does not support scheduled backup jobs, scheduled restore jobs or log shipping with this edition.

For SQL Server 2008, Service Pack 1 is supported (but not required). For SQL Server 2005, Service Packs 1, 2 and 3 are supported (but not required). For SQL Server 2000, Service Pack 3a or later is required.

The graphical user interface requires .NET version 2, 3.0 or 3.5.

Microsoft Windows support

SQL Backup supports the following Microsoft Windows operating systems:

• Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 4
• Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 4
• Windows 2000 Advanced Server Service Pack 4
• Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1, 2 and 3
• Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition and Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition:

  For 32-bit versions of Windows, Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2 are supported but not required.

  For 64-bit versions of Windows, Service Pack 1 is required. You must install this separately for Itanium; for x64 it is installed automatically. Service Pack 2 is supported but not required.

• Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 1 and 2 (Standard Edition and Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition)
• Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and 2
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2008 R2
• Windows 7