Read the items displayed in the Backup Task List. This list is 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 complete.

• 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, email is sent and the event is posted to the Windows Application event log.

Creating a transaction log backup using the Backup wizard

To start or schedule a backup of only transaction logs using the Backup wizard, complete the following steps.

Note: For a list of information you need to provide as you complete these steps, see "Information you need to specify when creating a transaction log backup" in Managing transaction log backups using SnapManager on page 126.

Step Action

1 In the SnapManager for SQL Server console root, click the SnapManager Backup Wizard option in the Actions pane.

Result The SnapManager Backup Wizard starts and displays the Welcome screen.

Welcome

2 Click Next.

Result The Databases to Backup or Verify screen appears.

Databases to Backup or Verify

3 In the left panel, click to select the databases you want to backup, and 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 backup"

under "Job-specific parameters" in Managing transaction log backups using SnapManager on page 126.

When you select databases at the SQL Server instance level, SnapManager reports any offline databases as skipped in the backup report. For more information, see

"Information you need to specify when creating a transaction log backup" in Managing transaction log backups using SnapManager on page 126.

Result The Backup or Verify Databases and Transaction Logs screen appears.

Back up or Verify Databases and Transaction Logs

4 Select the Backup Databases and Transaction logs option, and then click Next.

Result The SQL Server backup type screen appears.

SQL Server backup Type

5 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

Step Action

6 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.

• 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 when creating a transaction log backup" in Managing transaction log backups using

SnapManager on page 126.

Backup Finish

7 The Backup Finish 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 9.

Schedule the backup for later Go to Step 11.

To run the backup now:

8 If you want to run the backup, click Finish.

Result The Backup Status screen appears and displays the backup settings you have selected.

Step Action

9 In the Backup Status window, click Start Now.

Result The backup is performed.

• The Backup Status dialog box appears and displays a Backup Task List that is 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, an email is sent and the event is posted to the Windows Application event log.

To schedule the backup for later:

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

1. Select the Schedule 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.

For more information, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job on page 145.

11 Under "Select the Scheduling Service to Create Job," select either SQL Server Agent or Windows Scheduled Tasks.

For more information, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job on page 145.

12 Click OK.

If your backup job is not scheduled, you are taken to the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio for scheduling.

13 After the job is scheduled, SnapManager takes you out of the Backup wizard.

Configuring the number of transaction log backups your system retains

Configuring the number of transaction log backups your system retains enables you to balance up-to-the-minute restore needs with storage efficiency. The more transaction log backups your system retains, the more complete your up-to-the-minute restores can be, but the less efficient your storage is because of the amount of storage consumed.

To configure the number of transaction log backups your system retains, complete the following steps.

Note: You should keep a limited number of transaction logs to avoid running out of storage system disk space.

Step Action

1 In the SnapManager console root, double-click the server you want to use.

2 Select the Backup option in the Scope pane.

3 In the Actions pane, click Backup and Verify.

4 In the Backup Settings pane, click Up-to-minute Restore Options.

Result: The Retain Up-to-minute Restore Ability Settings window opens.

5 In the Retain Up-to-minute Restore Ability Settings window, choose from the three available options.

Option Description

Backups generated in the last [days] Retains all transaction log backups generated during the number of days you define;

automatically deletes logs older than the defined limit.

The most recent [number of backups] Retains a set number of the most recent transaction log backups; automatically deletes logs exceeding the defined limit.

All the older backups [Do Not delete any logs]

Retains all transaction log backups.

6 Choose whether to run the backup now or schedule it for later by clicking the applicable button:

Schedule Go to Step 7.

Backup Now Go to Step 8.

To schedule the backup:

7 Follow the instructions in Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job on page 145.

To back up the database now:

8 Read the items displayed in the Backup Task List.

This list shows the progress of the backup operation after you start it.

Step Action

9 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 completed.

• 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, email is sent and the event is posted to the Windows Application event log.