user database backups.... what is calling them ?

Question

user database backups.... what is calling them ?

ollie2308

SSC Enthusiast

Points: 196
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June 2, 2014 at 10:15 am

#308750

I have inherited a new SQL Server 2008 database server and can not figure out how my user databases are being backed up. This database server is running under a VM.
All the user databases are being backed up nightly per the SQL server log. (Times differ ranging from 9pm to 1am)...
The backups are written to a virtual disk and is kicked off by the NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM user. I can not see the virtual disk. A restore task does not provide any information about the last backup. I have created a new database, and it is automatically included in the next set of backups.
I have looked at the windows event viewer with out any luck. There are no SQL Server Maintenance Plans or Agent jobs that call a backup. I have also checked the Windows Task Scheduler and can not find any task that does a backup.
What am I missing ? Could the backups be called from another server ?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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Matt Crowley SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4163 More actions · Answer 1

There are a range of third party backup software packages that could do this sort of thing. A lot of them will populate a name for the backup, or description in the msdb..backupset table. Most of the third party backup agents I have seen rely on an agent usually installed as a service on the machine. A master server will call the agent to perform a backup when a tape is ready, or after some other backup job, or on a schedule. There are a lot of possibilities here.

ollie2308 SSC Enthusiast Points: 196 More actions · Answer 2

Thanks Matt, Unfortunately, the msdb..backupset.Name and msdb..backupset.Description columns are NULL

SQLRNNR SSC Guru Points: 281334 More actions · Answer 3

Is somebody creating snapshots of the VMS or backing up the VMS on a nightly basis?

VM Snapshots can cause this.

Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
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I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
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ollie2308 SSC Enthusiast Points: 196 More actions · Answer 4

I was wondering about VM snapshots.... So a VM snapshot will cause sql server to log that all the databases have been backed up ? !

That's gotta be it. I am seeing entries in the sql log about I/O being Frozen for each database, right before the entries indicating that the database has been backed up... which according to some additional research can happen during a VM snapshot ...

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

SQLRNNR SSC Guru Points: 281334 More actions · Answer 5

You're welcome.

Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events

Greg Edwards-268690 SSC-Insane Points: 20680 More actions · Answer 6

Although if that is the case, you also need to understand some of the implications.

Here is a good article [/url]describing some of them if you are unsure.

You may want to do your own backups for recovery options.