Add Multiple backup Drive Letters

  • We just moved over to Sql 2005. When we create backup plans the only drive we see when clicking the button is the drive that Sql is installed on. Now we can put in different location on bottom line but is there a way to add those drive locations so that we can click on those locations through the studio management and not have to type them in.

  • Sounds to me like this instance of SQL Server is in a cluster. If so, you need to add the other drives as dependencies for SQL Server in Cluster Administrator. This will require that you take SQL Server offline, add the dependencies and then bring it back online.

    Once completed - you should see the additional drives available.

    Now, if these additional drives are mapped drives - then SQL Server will not see them and you will have to use UNC to access them.

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  • The location window will NOT show Mapped drives as above post said

    You have to either

    1. use T-SQL to backup to UNC path

    BACKUP DATABASE [db] TO DISK = '\\Server\Share\db.bak'

    2. Add the UNC path as Backup Device

    then you can select either Disk or Device for the backup location

    EXEC master.dbo.sp_addumpdevice @devtype = N'disk', @logicalname = N'\\Server\E$', @physicalname = N'C:\Backup\\\Server\E$.bak'

    SQLServerNewbieMCITP: Database Administrator SQL Server 2005
  • Thanks for all the info, I went in and added a backup device with the UNC and it worked. We can see the named paths to backup too instead of typing in every time. Thanks

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