Help on Backup File Size ..

Question

Help on Backup File Size ..

John Paul-702936

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Points: 2182
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September 21, 2010 at 3:03 pm

#228148

The Database size is 15GB, But when I take backUp Using enterprise manager , The bak file size is also 15GB ..
and the another databse on same server , which is 35Gb database which is bak file like 2GB
Please help
John

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

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Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 1

A backup is the size of the used space in the database. So a 15 GB backup that has 0% free space will have a 15GB backup. A 15 GB database where 5GB is free space will have a backup file size of 10 GB.

That's assuming there's no backup compression happening (3rd party tools or SQL 2008)

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

John Paul-702936 SSCrazy Points: 2182 More actions · Answer 2

yes, no third party tool , backup from Enterprise manager ..

Is there any way to reduced the Back up file Size ..

Thanks

Shawn Melton SSC-Insane Points: 24685 More actions · Answer 3

John Paul-702936 (9/21/2010)Is there any way to reduced the Back up file Size ..

Delete all the data in the database, then perform backup :hehe:

Shawn Melton
Twitter: @wsmelton
Blog: wsmelton.github.com
Github: wsmelton

Ninja's_RGR'us SSC Guru Points: 294069 More actions · Answer 4

Remove data in the db or compress the backup.

Option 1 may look ridiculous but sometimes you don't need to keep data as far back as 10 years... maybe 2 is just fine for oltp system. Then you can move that extra data on a read_only db and backup only when you make changes rather than daily.