SQL LiteSeed

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SQL LiteSeed

RajeshAntonyV

SSC Enthusiast

Points: 147
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May 4, 2004 at 8:23 am

#107986

All,
I am in the process of looking at solutions that will speed our SQL Server backup. Right now we are just using SQL Server Agent to backup the databases directly to tape. We are also looking at Veritas as an alternative to do this by putting the backups to a staging area and then pick it up on to tape.
I would like to know:
1. Can SQL Litespeed back up to tape and also what kind of performance improvements can I expect to see?
2. Are there any other things I can do to improve the speed of the tape backups?
Thanks and looking forward to your suggestions,
Raj

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mimorr SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4850 More actions · Answer 1

SQL Litespeed replaces the native SQL Backup utility. It does not write directly to tape. It writes to disk and then you can use your usual backup software to backup this file.

For us, this is much better. I can run SQL LiteSpeed while my databases are online, just a very minor delay that only a DBA would notice. With our backup software, ArcServe, we would have to take the database offline, then backup the database files and then put the database back online.

With SQL Litespeed, you essentially end up with two copies of the database on your system, however their compression algorythm is great and so it doesn't take much disk space to hold that file until you get the tape written and verified.

I backed up 1.2 terebytes of databases to 2 LTO tapes (about 200 GB each) using SQL Litespeed in less than one business day. This was a process that I used to have to spend weeks on because I could only take the databases offline during our maintenance window. And it would take the same 1.2 Terebytes of tape.

Michelle Morris

Michelle

vjvj SSC Enthusiast Points: 151 More actions · Answer 2

SQL Lite speed works pretty good, you need to backup to disk and then to tape. The backup size reduces to 1/5th and almost 50% saving in time. Tried out the Trail version works out Expensive for us since we have a server with 8 processors and two servers with active and passive.