Hi Jeff, In order to get a consistent backup of a SQL Server database, you must use a tool that is integrated with SQL Server. In the case of snapshots, you must use a tool that knows how to work with SQL Server snapshots. SQL Server has two snapshot mechanisms, one through the VDI interface and the other through VSS. As a matter of fact, the SQL Server VSS Writer implementation calls VDI snapshot APIs under the covers.
TSM does support SQL Server snapshots using VSS. You will need Data Protection for SQL 5.5 (or later) along with the TSM for Copy Services license module in order to perform SQL Server VSS snapshots with TSM. You can attempt to use the LVSA, but I am not sure Microsoft will officially support you if you cannot get your SQL Server database into a consistent state. Thanks, Del ---------------------------------------------------- "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L@VM.MARIST.EDU> wrote on 05/07/2008 05:31:38 AM: > [image removed] > > Snapshot Image Backup and SQL Databases > > Jeff White > > to: > > ADSM-L > > 05/07/2008 05:35 AM > > Sent by: > > "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L@VM.MARIST.EDU> > > Please respond to "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" > > Hi > > > > TSM server v5.4.0 > > SQL Server 2005 running on Windows 2003 > > > > > > Hi > > > > A have a query regarding Snapshot image backups and SQL databases. > > > > I want to backup a 2tb drive which includes the SQL Server Databases. I > have installed LVSA and the online image backups work fine, taking 7 hrs > to backup and about 10 hrs to restore. > > > > Our DBA's are concerned about the consistency of the SQL databases after > a restore is performed and have asked that i run a TDP backup prior to > the LVSA backup. The have concerns that SQL database pointers may not be > consistent if the databases(s) are doing a checkpoint at the tme that > the LVSA image is performed. In the event of recovery, the DBA's have > asked that i restore the LVSA and then restore the TDP backup > afterwards. > > > > Any thoughts on this? Should the LVSA image restore the SQL databases in > a consistent manner?
