Qs on SQL Server backup using Enterprise Manager

Q1: When using All Tasks\Maintenance Plan to setup a database backup, why
does it have options for differential backup?
Q2: When using All Tasks\Backup Database, Why don't I have option
Remove the files older than
Q3: Does performing a Full database backup through Enterprise manager
automatically remove the inactived portion in the log file (or the portion
has been committed and written to the database)? It is grayed out in both
Full DB backup and Diff Backup. It is only available in Log backup.
Q4: How do you define "inactive entries"?
ThanksFrankie,
First, I suggest you read up on the BACKUP and RESTORE commands in Books Online. Backup is such an important
topic, and you don't want to be in a position where you need to do restore and realize that your backup
strategy causes you to loose more data than acceptable. Having said that:
> Q1: When using All Tasks\Maintenance Plan to setup a database backup, why
> does it have options for differential backup?
I assume you meant to say "doesn't it have". Maint Wiz is a basic tool. It was never designed for more than
the simpler scenarios. It is very difficult to answer "why?" questions. Someone in the design team at MS made
that decision, quite simply. Probably to make the Maint Plan easier to understand for beginners.
> Q2: When using All Tasks\Backup Database, Why don't I have option
> Remove the files older than
Because this is an immediate dialog.
> Q3: Does performing a Full database backup through Enterprise manager
> automatically remove the inactived portion in the log file (or the portion
> has been committed and written to the database)? It is grayed out in both
> Full DB backup and Diff Backup. It is only available in Log backup.
Only transaction log backup empties the transaction log. This is in order for a db backup to not break the log
backup chain sequence.
> Q4: How do you define "inactive entries"?
Transaction log records generated by transactions that are committed, and there is no earlier non-committed
transaction. These are not required for SQL server to perform a possible later rollback for any user.
--
Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP
http://www.karaszi.com/sqlserver/default.asp
http://www.solidqualitylearning.com/
"Frankie" <Frankie@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9FCB61BB-9A54-4FD9-B948-5229E9F7742E@.microsoft.com...
> Q1: When using All Tasks\Maintenance Plan to setup a database backup, why
> does it have options for differential backup?
> Q2: When using All Tasks\Backup Database, Why don't I have option
> Remove the files older than
> Q3: Does performing a Full database backup through Enterprise manager
> automatically remove the inactived portion in the log file (or the portion
> has been committed and written to the database)? It is grayed out in both
> Full DB backup and Diff Backup. It is only available in Log backup.
> Q4: How do you define "inactive entries"?
> Thanks