Backing Up Data › Global Backup Options › Backup Manager Agent Options › Agent for Microsoft SQL Server Options › Backup Method Options

Backup Method Options

The following backup methods are provided on both the Agent Options (database level) and Agent Options (Global Options) dialogs:

• Use Global or Rotation Options--Use Global or Rotation Options is the default setting.

  Arcserve Backup can apply Incremental and Differential global backup methods from the Job Scheduler when backing up Microsoft SQL Server databases. This lets you use rotation schemes to perform differential and Transaction Log backups of Microsoft SQL Server databases, which are dynamically adjusted based on the limitations of each individual database.

  In releases of the agent that pre-date Arcserve Backup r12, the Global Backup Method or Rotation Scheme option from the Job Scheduler overrides local database options. In this release, the Global Backup Method or Rotation Scheme is applied only if you selected Use Global or Rotation Options in the database level options for the database and in the Global Agent Options for SQL Server.

  This option backs up the selected database using the Backup Method from the Job Schedule. The Job Methods are applied using the logic that follows:

  • The Full job method will result in a Full backup of the database.
  • The Differential job method will result in a Differential backup of the database, unless this database has not yet had a Full backup.
  • The Incremental job method will result in a Transaction Log backup With Truncation for databases using the Full and Bulk-Logged Recovery Models, and a Differential backup of databases using the Simple Recovery Model, unless this database has not yet had a Full backup.
  • The three main System databases are exempt from the Job Method and from the Backup Method in the Global Agent Options; selecting this option for databases master, model, or msdb will always result in a Full backup.
• Full--A Full backup is performed. All files included in the Database Subset selected will be backed up in their entirety.
• Differential--Backs up only data that has changed since the last Full backup. For example, if you ran a complete backup of your database on Sunday night, you can run a differential backup on Monday night to back up only the data that changed on Monday.

  Note: When selected in the Global Agent Options, this option is ignored by system databases. Databases that have not received a Database Full Backup will revert to a Full Backup.

• Back up Transaction Log After Database--Backs up only the Transaction log. This option is only available for databases using the Full and Bulk-Logged Recovery Models. For databases using the Simple Recovery Model, Arcserve Backup performs a Differential backup when you select Transaction Log Only from the Global Agent Options tab.

  Note: When selected in the Global Agents Options, this option is ignored by system databases. Databases that have not received a Database Full Backup will revert to a Full Backup.

The backup method selected on the Global Agent Options tab overrides the selection made in a job's global backup method or rotation phase in the Job Scheduler. If you select the backup method using the Global Agent Options tab, note the following:

• The three system databases (master, model, and msdb) are exempt from the Backup Method in the Global Agent Options tab.
• For databases that have not yet received a Database Full backup, Arcserve Backup ignores the backup method set in the Global Agent Options tab and performs a full backup by default.
• For databases using the Simple Recovery Model, Arcserve Backup performs a Differential backup when you choose Transaction Log Only on the Global Agent Options tab.

Because any selection other than Use Global or Rotation Method for a database overrides the selection in the Global Agent Options dialog, the Backup Method is not affected by the Override Global Options setting on the database's Agent Options (database level) dialog.