Add Microsoft SQL Server

This article will guide you through the process of adding Microsoft SQL Server to ActiveProtect to safeguard your database data.

Before you start

System requirements

Make sure that both your operating system and database versions meet the required system specifications.

Enable Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS)

ActiveProtect utilizes VSS to take snapshots of your data before backup, ensuring consistency and accuracy. Follow these steps to enable VSS on the physical server or virtual machine running your database:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "services.msc" and press Enter to open Services.
3. Locate Volume Shadow Copy Service.
4. Check the Status column to see if the service is running or not. If it shows "Started", VSS is running. If it shows "Stopped", it isn't.
5. (Optional) Right-click and select Properties for detailed configuration.

Back up Microsoft SQL Server

Add Microsoft SQL Server

Add the physical server or virtual machine hosting the Microsoft SQL Server to your ActiveProtect site:

• Instructions for adding physical servers
• Instructions for adding virtual machines

Set database processing preferences

ActiveProtect ensures database data consistency by using VSS to capture snapshots during backups. This approach simplifies the restoration of your SQL Server data when needed. To set this up, enable application-aware backup and customize database processing in your workload's assigned protection plan.

Specify credentials

To authenticate during backups, provide database and guest OS credentials from an account with sufficient privileges:

• Default credentials: Set these within the protection plan to apply to all associated virtual machines or physical servers.
• Workload-specific credentials:
  1. Navigate to Machines > Physical Servers or Virtual Machines.
  2. Choose the target physical server or virtual machine.
  3. Click More > Specify credentials. These credentials will override the default ones.