Checking for existence of backup device

  • I know that I can use T-SQL to add a dump device (EXEC sp_addumpdevice ...) and then run a backup.

    But if I run the script again, I get an error, because the dump device already exists.

    So how do I modify the script to include a check for existence of the device before creating it?

    Thanks

    Phil

    The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence
    - Martin Rees
    The absence of consumable DDL, sample data and desired results is, however, evidence of the absence of my response
    - Phil Parkin

  • Have a look at sp_helpdevice.  If run with no parameters it will return a recordset containing all devices.  A status of 16 is a backup device.

     

  • Thanks - the returned recordset contains the info I need, but how do I query it as part of my script? sp_helpdevice itself returns just 0 (success) or 1 (failure).

    Phil

    The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence
    - Martin Rees
    The absence of consumable DDL, sample data and desired results is, however, evidence of the absence of my response
    - Phil Parkin

  • create table #devices (DeviceName varchar (100), PhysName Varchar (100), Description varchar (100), status int, cntrltype int, size int)

    Insert into #devices

    Exec sp_helpdevice

    select * from #devices

    Check the lengths of the columns in the temp table - I suspect that they be not be adequate.

  • Thanks very much, I'll try that.

    ... tried it now and works a treat - thanks v much.

    Phil

    The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence
    - Martin Rees
    The absence of consumable DDL, sample data and desired results is, however, evidence of the absence of my response
    - Phil Parkin

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