Backing Up with the Enterprise Manager 

Use

The SQL Enterprise Manager allows you to backup the entire database or the transaction log on its own. SAP recommends the use of the Enterprise Manager for individual, exceptional backups that are not part of the normal backup routine.

For backups that are scheduled periodically, in accordance with a predefined backup strategy, it is advisable to use the R/3 CCMS Planning Calendar. This offers a range of useful functions for scheduling backups and easy access to other R/3 transactions that let you monitor backups.

Keep in mind that a backup scheduled and executed in the Enterprise Manager is not recorded in the R/3 Planning Calendar.

Procedure

Executing a Backup

  1. In the Enterprise Manager, expand the server.
  2. Expand the databases to display a list of existing databases. Select the database that you want to create a backup for and choose Action ® All tasks ® Backup database.

    3. The SQL Server Backup dialog box appears.

  3. Choose the General tab. Select the database you wish to backup.
  4. Enter a name and description for the backup.
  5. Select the type of backup you want to create. In the R/3 environment this can either be Database - Complete, Transaction Log or Differential backup.

    6. Database Complete backs up the entire database including the data and log files. This type of backup does not truncate the transaction log.

    Transaction Log backs up the transaction log only. The procedure includes the truncation of the log.

    Differential backs up only the changes made to the database since the last full database backup.

  6. Under Destination, select whether the backup is to be written to tape or disk. Make sure that the devices you intend to use are listed. If not, choose either Add to create a new device or Remove to delete an existing one. Usually R3DUMP0 is the correct device.
  7. The backup can either be executed immediately or scheduled to run at a later time. To schedule the backup, choose the button beside the schedule entry field.
  8. The backup can either be executed immediately or scheduled to run at a later time. To schedule the backup, choose the button beside the schedule entry field.

    9. The Edit Schedule dialog box appears.

  9. Complete the Edit Schedule dialog box.

    10. One Time schedules the backup to run once. Set a date in the On Date box and a time in the At Time box.

    Recurring schedules the backup to run at regular intervals.
    To specify the details for the recurring backup, choose the Change button. You can then enter information in the Task Schedule dialog box that opens.

  10. To complete the definition of the backup, switch to the Options tab. This offers various options that influence the execution of the backup. Choose the options as required. If you are uncertain which ones are suitable, access the information provided by the Help button.

    11. Always choose Verify Backup on Completion as this makes sure that all the files are written to tape and can be read.

  11. When you have completed the definition of the backup, choose OK to execute the backup immediately. If you have specified a particular time for the backup or scheduled it repeatedly, choose OK to save your entries. The backup will automatically be started at the time you have specified.

Monitoring the Backup

A backup that has been scheduled is executed as a job by the SQL Server Agent. To monitor a backup that is currently running, you have to access the SQL Server Agent that is responsible for executing scheduled jobs.

  1. In the Enterprise Manager, expand the server and then Management and SQL Server Agent.
  2. Select Jobs.

    3. The right-hand pane displays an overview of all scheduled jobs.

  3. The Status and Last Run Status column indicate whether the backup is running or has aborted with an error.

Backup tasks scheduled in the Enterprise Manager are not registered in the R/3 Planning Calendar.