deleting old backup files from fileshare

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deleting old backup files from fileshare

plamannkathy

SSCrazy

Points: 2190
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January 11, 2016 at 1:32 pm

#323467

Hi
I would like to schedule a SQL Agent job to delete old sql backups from the fileshare. Does anyone have any code to do this?
Thanks
Kathy

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jcarranza 23978 Ten Centuries Points: 1380 More actions · Answer 1

You might want to create an SSIS package to run a cmd or powershell script that will delete the files or do multiple file system tasks to delete specific files.. etc.. Publish the SSIS package an then create a SQL Server Agent Job to run the SSIS package.

Hugo Kornelis SSC Guru Points: 64790 More actions · Answer 2

Or you can consider switching over to Ola Hallengren's excellent database maintenance scripts, available for free at https://ola.hallengren.com/[/url]. They drive all the backups for you, including the cleanup of old backup after a specified retention period. And they do much more.

Oh, and though I have no personal experience with them, I also hear a lot of good things about Minion Backup (http://minionware.net/backup/[/url]). Also free (a paid "pro" version is available, but I think that the features are the same - you basically only pay for enhanced support).

Hugo Kornelis, SQL Server/Data Platform MVP (2006-2016)
Visit my SQL Server blog: https://sqlserverfast.com/blog/
SQL Server Execution Plan Reference: https://sqlserverfast.com/epr/

sql-lover SSCoach Points: 18530 More actions · Answer 3

plamannkathy (1/11/2016)
Hi
I would like to schedule a SQL Agent job to delete old sql backups from the fileshare. Does anyone have any code to do this?
Thanks
Kathy

I have this as part of a SQL job, one of the steps for my backups

PushD "\\backupserver\folder\server1\" &&("forfiles.exe" /S /M "*DIFF*.sqb" /d -1 /c "cmd /c del @file") & PopD

This is to delete all DIFFs that are older than 1 day. Test that code though!

I combine that with Ola's code, as I had to create a custom job with separate schedule for big databases. But for most people, Ola's solution is more than enough plus he's a great guy with awesome support, for being a 100% free tool I mean.