Problem backing up Database and Transaction Log due to disk space limitations

[war_wheelan]

I am having a problem backing up my database and TLog files due to a
lack of local diskspace. The db file is about 30GB and the TLog is
about 20GB each on a different hard disk. Each disk doesn't have
enough available space to accomadate a backup. I also can't shrink the
files because part of that procedure would require a backup.

Question: Can I use a redirected drive for the backup media? Is there
a way to trick SQL into allowing this? If the answer is no, does
anyone have a suggestion as to want I should do? I am in the process
of requesting more disk space,but that could take a while.

Thanks,

[Erland Sommarskog]

(wa*********@yahoo.com) writes:

I am having a problem backing up my database and TLog files due to a
lack of local diskspace. The db file is about 30GB and the TLog is
about 20GB each on a different hard disk. Each disk doesn't have
enough available space to accomadate a backup. I also can't shrink the
files because part of that procedure would require a backup.

Question: Can I use a redirected drive for the backup media? Is there
a way to trick SQL into allowing this?

That should be straightforward. However, the Windows user under which
SQL Server runs must have access to the disk. If this user is local system,
this is not likely to be the case, so you may have to change this to a
domain user.

To do this, right-click My Computer, select Manage. Find Services. Here
find the MSSQL Server service. Right-click, Properties, and on the second
tab you can change Log On information. You need to restart the server.

--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, es****@sommarskog.se

Books Online for SQL Server SP3 at
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinf...2000/books.asp

[war_wheelan]

Erland,

My SQL Server does run under an admin account, but when I use
Enterprise Mgr to perform the backup I can't see my redirected drives.
Should I add a remote destination even though Enterprise Mgr says that
it can't verify the destination?

Thanks,

[Erland Sommarskog]

(wa*********@yahoo.com) writes:

My SQL Server does run under an admin account, but when I use
Enterprise Mgr to perform the backup I can't see my redirected drives.
Should I add a remote destination even though Enterprise Mgr says that
it can't verify the destination?

Your redirected accounts may not be the same as the admin accounts. For
starters, are you running Enterprise Manager on the same machine that
SQL Server is on?

You can always use UNC path. (Well whether you can use it EM, I don't know.
But you can always type the BACKUP command from Query Analyzer.)

And, oh, if "admin account" only means "admin on the local server", it
may still not have access to disk on other machines.
--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, es****@sommarskog.se

Books Online for SQL Server SP3 at
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinf...2000/books.asp