How to create a database backup (Enterprise Manager)

To create a database backup

1. Expand a server group; then expand a server.
2. Expand Databases, right-click the database, point to All Tasks, and then click Backup Database....
3. On the General tab, in Name, enter the backup set name.
4. Optionally, in Description, enter a description of the backup set.
5. Under Backup, select Database - complete.
6. Under Destination, click Add... to add an existing or create a new backup device, or click Remove to remove a backup device from the list of backup devices to be used.
7. In the SQL Server Backup dialog box, under Overwrite, select:
   • Append to media to append the backup to any existing backups on the backup device.
   • Overwrite existing media to overwrite any existing backups on the backup device.
8. Optionally, select Schedule to schedule the backup operation for later or periodic execution.
9. Optionally, click the Options tab and select from these backup options:
   • Verify backup upon completion causes the backup to be verified when backed up.
   • Eject tape after backup causes the tape to be ejected when the backup operation has completed. Available only with tape devices.
   • Check media set name and backup set expiration causes the backup media to be checked to prevent accidental overwrites. In Media set name, enter the name of the media that should be used for the backup operation. Leave blank when only specifying the backup set expiration.
10. If it is the first use of the backup media, or you want to change an existing media label, under Media set labels, select Initialize and label media, and enter the media set name and media set description. The media can only be initialized and labeled when overwriting the media.

See Also