The OBM can be installed on the SQL server, or a separate backup client machine.
For OBM installation on the SQL Server
Please ensure that the following requirements are met by the SQL Server:
- OBM version 5.5.8.0 or above is installed on the SQL server.
Note: MS SQL 2008 R2 is only supported for OBM version 5.5.8.0 or above.
- Databases files are spooled to a temporary directory before being uploaded to the offsite backup server.
It is recommended that the temporary directory have disk space of at least 120% of the total database size.
- It is recommended that the temporary directory be configured on a local drive.
- The SQL Windows service must have read write permission to the temporary directory.
- For database with simple recovery model, only full database and differential database backups are allowed.
- To perform a transaction log backup, please change the corresponding databases' recovery model from simple to full.
For OBM installation on a separate Backup Client Machine
Please ensure that the following requirements are met by the Backup Client Machine:
- OBM version 5.5.8.0 or above is installed on the dedicated machine for backup.
- Databases files are spooled to the temporary directory before being uploaded to the offsite backup server.
It is recommended that the temporary directory have disk space of at least 120% of the total database size.
- Since the OBM is not installed directly on the SQL server, the temporary directory configured for the backup set must be a network path that is accessible by the SQL server.
- The SQL Windows service must have read write permission to the network temporary directory.
- For database with simple recovery model, only full database and differential database backups are allowed.
- To perform a transaction log backup, please change the corresponding databases' recovery model from simple to full.
Note: MS SQL 2008 R2 is only supported for OBM version 5.5.8.0 or above.
Please update the service's [Log On] setting of the services if required.
Considerations for backup and restore of system databases
Refer to the following tables for considerations for backup and restore of system databases:
Considerations for backup of system databases:
SQL server maintains a set of system level database which are essential for the operation of the server instance.
Several of the system databases must be backed up after every significant update, they include:
- master
- model
- msdb
For SQL database with replication enabled.
- distribution
This table summarizes all of the system databases.
System Database |
Description |
Backup Required |
Suggestion |
master |
The database that records all of the system level information of a SQL server system. |
Yes |
Back up the master database as often as necessary to protect the data sufficiently for your business needs. Microsoft recommends a regular backup schedule, which you can supplement with manual backup after any substantial update. |
model |
The template for all databases that are created on the instance of SQL server. |
Yes |
Backup the model database only when necessary, for example, after customizing its database options. Microsoft recommends that you create only full database backups of model, as required. Because model is small and rarely changes, backing up the log is unnecessary. |
msdb |
The msdb database is used by SQL Server Agent for scheduling alerts and jobs, and for recording operators. It also contains history tables (e.g. backup / restore history table). |
Yes |
Back up msdb whenever it is updated. |
tempdb |
A workspace for holding temporary or intermediate result sets. This database is recreated every time an instance of SQL server is started. |
Yes |
The tempdb system database cannot be backed up. |
distribution |
The distribution database exists only if the server is configured as a replication distributor. It stores metadata and history data for all types of replication, and transactions for transactional replication. |
Yes |
Replicated databases and their associated system databases should be backed up regularly. |
Considerations for restore of system databases:
System Database |
Restore suggestion |
master |
To restore any database, the instance of SQL server must be running. Startup of an instance of SQL server requires that the master database is accessible and at least party useable. Restore or rebuild the master database completely if master becomes un-useable. |
model |
Restore the model database if:
|
msdb |
Restore the msdb database if:
|
distribution |
For restore strategies of distribution database, please refer to the following online document from Microsoft for more details: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms152560.aspx |