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[Azure] Backup your SQL Server databases

  • September 11, 2018
  • 4 min read
Cloud and Virtualization Architect. Florent is specializing in public, hybrid, and private cloud technologies. He is a Microsoft MVP in Cloud and Datacenter Management and an MCSE in Private Cloud.
Cloud and Virtualization Architect. Florent is specializing in public, hybrid, and private cloud technologies. He is a Microsoft MVP in Cloud and Datacenter Management and an MCSE in Private Cloud.

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Microsoft released a few weeks ago a new feature, to backup your SQL Server databases, directly from Azure Backup. You’ll be able to find more information about prerequisites and limitations here : https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-sql-database

Backup

To start, open your vault, and choose SQL Server in Azure VM instead of Virtual Machines. As you can see, because VMs are deployed manually and not through the marketplace, I need to do manually some actions. Select a VM that contains a SQL Server :

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An extension will be deployed on each VM, to access databases :

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An error message will appear, to give you the instruction to add sysadmin rights, on instances that you want to backup, to the account created during the installation of the extension, NT Service\AzureWLBackupPluginSvc:

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Error Code : UserErrorSQLNoSysadminMembership
Error Message : Azure Backup service creates a service account “NT Service\AzureWLBackupPluginSvc” for all operations and this account needs SQL sysadmin priviledge.
Recommended Action : Please provide SysAdmin privileges to AzureWLBackupPluginSvc.

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When it’s done, relaunch the scan of instances to discover databases :

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Databases have been discovered correctly :

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Click now on Configure Backup :

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And choose databases to backup :

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Choose a policy to backup logs :

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Our databases have been added to the backup successfully. Click on it to access them :

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Choose a database and start a Full backup :

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All full backups worked correctly :

https://i1.wp.com/cloudyjourney.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/AzureSQL12.png?ssl=1

 

Restore

To restore a database, go on the database that you want to restore, and click on Restore. You can create a new database based on the backup, et replace the current database :

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Select a restore point :

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And where to restore this database :

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Restore of the database is in progress :

https://i1.wp.com/cloudyjourney.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/AzureSQL16.png?ssl=1

The database has been restored correctly :

https://i0.wp.com/cloudyjourney.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/AzureSQL17.png?ssl=1

This new functionality is very interesting and is working smoothly for a preview. Adding of other databases types like Oracle, MySQL, PostGre, etc. could be very interesting.

 

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Taras Shved
Taras Shved StarWind HCI Appliance Product Manager
Look no further! StarWind HCI Appliance (HCA) is a plug-and-play solution that combines compute, storage, networking, and virtualization software into a single easy-to-use hyperconverged platform. It's designed to significantly trim your IT costs and save valuable time. Interested in learning more? Book your StarWind HCA demo now to see it in action!