Why Subplans?

  • If I use the wizard to create backup plans, it creates subplans to run the various parts of the maintenance plan. What's the benefit of using subplans instead of individual plans? I've done a little searching, but wasn't able to find anything about why to use subplans.

    I'm still learning about maintenance and backups and such and would like to use best practices, but wizards don't necessarily implement best practices and I'd like to understand what I'm doing and why I'm doing it as well.

    I realize this might all come down to opinion and preference, so I'd like to hear those as well.

    Thanks!

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  • Subplans are just an organizing tool, like file system folders. Use them if they help you stay organized, don't if they don't. There is no mechanical advantage to them, just an organizational one.

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  • GSquared (4/6/2011)


    Subplans are just an organizing tool, like file system folders. Use them if they help you stay organized, don't if they don't. There is no mechanical advantage to them, just an organizational one.

    Awesome! Thanks, that's what I suspected, but it is nice to have it confirmed.

    --------------------------------------
    When you encounter a problem, if the solution isn't readily evident go back to the start and check your assumptions.
    --------------------------------------
    It’s unpleasantly like being drunk.
    What’s so unpleasant about being drunk?
    You ask a glass of water. -- Douglas Adams

  • One of the things to be aware of is how the maintenance plan history viewer works. It works based upon the maintenance plan - and not the sub-plans.

    If you have a single maintenance plan, with a sub-plan for your transaction log backups - and those transaction log backups run every 15 mintues you would have a lot of entries to search through to find the history for any other sub-plans.

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    Managing Transaction Logs

  • Jeffrey Williams-493691 (4/6/2011)


    One of the things to be aware of is how the maintenance plan history viewer works. It works based upon the maintenance plan - and not the sub-plans.

    If you have a single maintenance plan, with a sub-plan for your transaction log backups - and those transaction log backups run every 15 mintues you would have a lot of entries to search through to find the history for any other sub-plans.

    Good to know for the future. Currently this is for a data warehouse. Loads happen once a day and (differential and transaction) backups happen once a day. Full backups happen once a week.

    --------------------------------------
    When you encounter a problem, if the solution isn't readily evident go back to the start and check your assumptions.
    --------------------------------------
    It’s unpleasantly like being drunk.
    What’s so unpleasant about being drunk?
    You ask a glass of water. -- Douglas Adams

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