sp_delete_backuphistory (T-SQL)

Deletes the entries in the backup and restore history tables for backup sets that are older than oldest_date. Because additional rows are added to the backup and restore history tables whenever a backup or restore operation is performed, sp_delete_backuphistory can be used to reduce the size of the history tables in the msdb database.

Syntax

sp_delete_backuphistory [@oldest_date =] 'oldest_date'

Arguments

[@oldest_date =] 'oldest_date'

Is the oldest date retained in the backup and restore history tables. oldest_date is datetime, with no default.

Return Code Values

0 (success) or 1 (failure)

Result Sets

None

Remarks

sp_delete_backuphistory must be run from the msdb database.

Permissions

Execute permissions default to members of the sysadmin fixed server role, but can be granted to other users.

Examples

This example deletes all entries older than August 20, 1998, 5:30 A.M., in the backup and restore history tables.

USE msdb

EXEC sp_delete_backuphistory '08/20/98'

See Also