How to configure differential backups with NetBackup for Microsoft SQL Server

Description

1. Logon to the SQL client using an account with administrator rights on the SQL server.
2. If the logon parameters for the NetBackup MS SQL Client are configured, please proceed to Step 6.
3. Click on Start > Programs > Veritas NetBackup > NetBackup agents > NetBackup MS SQL client. If this is the first time the NetBackup database extension is opened, the message "Please select login parameters from the 'Set database login parameters' window." is received.
4. Otherwise, from the NetBackup Database Extension GUI, select File > Set SQL Server connection properties.
   
   Figure 1
    
    
5. Enter the database login parameters using either standard security or integrated security. Enter a userid with administrator rights on all databases. The userid can use either standard or integrated security. In the example below, the user account is a domain account with administrator rights on the SQL server.
   
   Figure 2
    
    
6. From the NetBackup Database Extension, select File > Netbackup SQL server objects.
   
   Figure 3
    
    
   1. Select the database(s) to backup.
   2. The Full Differential backup includes all of the changes made to the database since the last full backup. The Differential backup is a database backup and does not truncate the transaction logs. When performing a restore of the database, the restore requires the last full backup in addition to the last differential backup. It is not necessary to restore any of the intermediate differentials.
   3. The "Save" option creates a batch file for use in the SQL Policy. Test backups using the "Launch immediately" option.
   4. The Radio buttons listed under "Back up:" allow the administrator to backup only the selected databases, all except the selected databases, or all databases on the SQL server.  The "All" option allows the backups to automatically backup any additional databases added to the server after the batch file is created.
      
      By default, any batch files created are saved in the <install_path>\veritas\netbackup\dbext\mssql directory on the SQL server.
       
7. After selecting "OK" with the selected options, NetBackup allows the administrator to view and edit the batch file.
   
   Figure 4
    
   
   In the above batch file:
   - The only database selected was "Pubs".
   - SQLHOST is the production SQL server.
   - NBSERVER lists the current master server.
    
8. Create a SQL policy on the NetBackup master server.
   
   Figure 5
    
    
   1. Select the "MS-SQL-Server" policy type.
   2. The "Default-Application-Backup" Schedule is created by default.  This schedule is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It controls the retention of the image. The Default-Application-Backup does not control the frequency of the job.
   3. The Automatic Backup Schedule controls the Frequency and backup window of the job.
   4. Client name specified needs to be the NetBIOS machine name of the SQL client.
   5. Specify the batch filename including the .bch extension. As long as the batch file is saved in the default location (Step 6), the path does not need to be specified.