Veritas SQL agent vs. SQL .bak

[Brad]

Could someone please explain the pros/cons of installing the Veritas
SQL agent versus backing up the .bak file generated by SQL Server? I
have worked with both setups in the past, but never really understood
what made one better than another.

TIA,
Brad

[Simon Hayes]

"Brad" <bs*****@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:11*********************@g49g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...

Could someone please explain the pros/cons of installing the Veritas
SQL agent versus backing up the .bak file generated by SQL Server? I
have worked with both setups in the past, but never really understood
what made one better than another.

TIA,
Brad

I've never used Veritas with MSSQL, but I imagine that if the Agent does
something which BACKUP/RESTORE can't do, or if your business has a backup
management infrastructure based on it, then it would be useful. On the other
hand, you probably can't restore any MSSQL backups without installing
Veritas on a server first, which could affect your disaster recovery plans.

Whatever backup software you use (or don't), the most important point is to
ensure you've tested and rehearsed different recovery scenarios
successfully.

Simon

[John Bell]

Hi

The need plug in agents for doing backups is somewhat reduced with the low
cost of discs, meaning that backup to disc before putting onto tape is now
the more common option. There are cicumstances where backing up directly to
media is an advantage. If backing up to disc you can potentially centralise
the backup mechanism and reduce the load on your server and decrease the
time taken to backup the database (although not necessary the time taken for
the whole backup cycle!).

John

"Brad" <bs*****@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:11*********************@g49g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...

Could someone please explain the pros/cons of installing the Veritas
SQL agent versus backing up the .bak file generated by SQL Server? I
have worked with both setups in the past, but never really understood
what made one better than another.

TIA,
Brad