INF: Using Sytos Plus for Backup

  - Microsoft SQL Server version 4.2a for OS/2

SUMMARY

In the SQL Server "Language Reference" manual, the sp_addumpdevice remarks section provides inconsistent information on the use of Sytos Plus as the database backup mechanism.

MORE INFORMATION

In the remarks section on the sp_addumpdevice stored procedure, two conflicting statements are made on the use of the Sytos software to back up databases. In the last paragraph on page 313, the first sentence contains the statement "...do not use the Sytos Plus software to back up a database." But the first sentence in the next paragraph reads "However, you can use Sytos Plus to back up SQL Server databases the way you back up files."

Using the Sytos Plus tape software is a valid backup method if your environment allows shutting down SQL Server for the length of time required to back up all database devices together. It may be the preferred option if this condition is met, and you have multiple databases that you wish to back up unattended. It is important to remember that in the event a database device is lost, you will only be able to recover your data up to the point of the last Sytos Plus backup. Also, if you choose to use the Sytos tape backup, you will still need to truncate the transaction log, and should still regularly execute the "DBCC CHKALLOC" and "DBCC CHECKDB" commands in conjunction with the backup to check the internal consistency of the databases.