SQL safe Freeware Edition

FAQs

General Issues

• What is SQL safe Freeware Edition?

  SQL safe Freeware Edition is a free SQL Server database backup and recovery tool based on our award-winning SQL safe product. SQL safe Freeware Edition gives you a really high-performance backup and recovery engine, a scriptable interface (command line and XSP) and the ability to backup and compress any size and any number of databases, all for free.

  If you want the most advanced SQL Server backup and recovery solution on the planet, with encryption, additional compression options, enterprise-class management capabilities, ’hands-free’ backup and recovery automation, and 24x7 technical support, then you can download a free 14-day trial of Idera’s award-winning full-edition of SQL safe here.

• What is Idera Freeware?

  Idera Freeware applications are tools developed by the engineering team at Idera to alleviate common, day-to-day DBA headaches. They are yours to use anywhere you like, completely free of charge.

  All the support materials that you need to install, configure and use Idera Freeware tools are provided via FAQs on the Idera website.

  We’d love to hear what you think about our freeware tools, so if you have comments, feedback or ideas for other cool tools then drop us an email at freeware@idera.com.

• Why is Idera offering SQL safe Freeware Edition?

  Because every DBA needs a high-performance backup and recovery solution that runs fast and saves lots of disk space.

  And…we think that if you like our freeware edition then you’ll love our full edition (you can get a trial here).

• How are Idera Freeware tools supported?

  Idera Freeware products are supported differently than our licensed software products – support is available only via online FAQs vs. 24x7 phone support, and upgrades come when they come vs. regular maintenance upgrades.

• Where should I use SQL safe Freeware Edition?

  Anywhere you like. However, for your really, really critical production servers, it’s probably a good idea to spend a few dollars and upgrade to the full edition of SQL safe so that you can benefit from Idera’s world-class 24x7 technical support.

Product Feature Questions

• How do I install SQL safe Freeware Edition?

  Installation of SQL safe Freeware Edition is very easy and takes only minutes. Simply download the product and start the install from the welcome screen. Follow the prompts in the installation wizard to complete the installation. If you need help getting started using the product, refer to the product Quick Start Guide.

• How do I use SQL safe Freeware Edition to backup my server(s)?

  Using SQL safe Freeware Edition, you can backup a database in the following ways:

  1. Perform an adhoc backup using the command-line interface
  2. Perform an adhoc backup using the extended stored procedure (XSP)
  3. Perform a regularly scheduled backup by creating a SQL Server Job

  To perform a backup using the command-line interface, do the following:

  1. Open a command prompt window. Select Start > Run, type ‘cmd’, and select OK

  2. In the command prompt window, enter the following:

     SQL safecmd backup <name of database> <path and filename of backup filename>

     For example:
     SQL safecmd backup northwind c:\backup\northwind.safe
     SQL safecmd backup northwind c:\backup\nw_%timestamp%.safe

  For a complete list of all command-line parameters, please refer to the CLI Guide found in the Start > Programs > Idera > SQL safe > CLI Guide

  To perform a backup using the extended stored procedure (XSP), do the following:

  1. Open Query Analyzer or SQL Server Management Studio

  2. Enter the following:

     DECLARE @Returncode int
     EXEC @Returncode = [master].[dbo].[xp_ss_backup] @database = “Northwind”, @filename = "c:\backup\northwind.safe"

  For a complete list of all XSP parameters, please refer to the XSP Guide and XSP Samples found in the Start > Programs > Idera > SQL safe > XSP

  To perform a regularly scheduled backup of a database, create a SQL Server Job using either the CLI or XSP examples shown above.

• How do I restore a database using SQL safe Freeware Edition?

  Using SQL safe Freeware Edition, you can restore a database in the following ways:

  1. Perform an adhoc restore using the command-line interface
  2. Perform an adhoc restore using the extended stored procedure (XSP)
  3. Perform a regularly scheduled restore by creating a SQL Server Job

  To perform a restore using the command-line interface, do the following:

  1. Open a command prompt window. Select Start > Run, type ‘cmd’, and select OK

  2. In the command prompt window, enter the following:

     SQL safecmd restore <name of database> <path and filename of backup filename>

     For example:
     SQL safecmd restore northwind c:\backup\northwind.safe

  For a complete list of all command-line parameters, please refer to the CLI Guide found in the Start > Programs > Idera > SQL safe > CLI Guide

  To perform a restore using the extended stored procedure (XSP), do the following:

  1. Open Query Analyzer or SQL Server Management Studio

  2. Enter the following:

     DECLARE @Returncode int
     EXEC @Returncode = [master].[dbo].[xp_ss_restore] @database = “Northwind”, @filename = "c:\backup\northwind.safe"

  For a complete list of all XSP parameters, please refer to the XSP Guide and XSP Samples found in the Start > Programs > Idera > SQL safe > XSP

  To perform a regularly scheduled restore of a database, create a SQL Server Job using either the CLI or XSP examples shown above.

• What are the key differences between SQL safe and SQL safe Freeware Edition?

  	SQL safe Freeware	SQL safe
  High performance SQL Server backup engine	X	X
  Scriptable interface (command line or Extended Stored Procedure)	X	X
  Intelligent data compression algorithm	Optimized for speed	Option to optimize for speed, size or data type
  Support materials and documentation on Idera website	X	X
  24/7 support via comprehensive support site, email, live chat and live phone assistance		X
  Product maintenance contract for bug fixes, upgrades, phone support, etc.		X
  Choice of four encryption methods to ensure security of backup data		X
  Striped backup to enable faster parallel I/O processing		X
  Table level recovery from a SQL safe backup file		X
  Central management console with real time execution and monitoring of backup operations		X
  IntelliRestore™ technology, enabling rapid visual restore to a defined point in time		X
  Backup and restore wizards to provide ease of use		X
  Web console (anywhere, anytime access from a Web browser)		X
  Policy-based backup to apply the same backup schedule across multiple servers or databases		X
  Automated deployment of backup engine to servers across the enterprise		X
  Alerting of failed or missed operation		X
  Central repository of backup and recovery information and metrics		X
  Tivoli Storage Manager Integration		X
  Comprehensive reporting		X
  Evaluation copies available	n/a	Yes, Free for 14 days
  Price	Free	$1195 per managed SQL Server instance

• What compression options does SQL safe Freeware Edition offer?

  It offers one compression option – an intelligent compression algorithm that selects the best approach for backup speed.

  The full edition of SQL safe offers many more compression options that optimize compression for speed, backup size, type of data and other stuff.

• Does SQL safe Freeware Edition support encryption of backups?

  No, sorry, encryption is only available in the full edition of SQL safe.

• What type of user interface is provided for SQL safe Freeware Edition?

  An easy-to-use, scriptable interface than you use via the command line or extended stored procedures. No GUI for managing backups across multiple databases or servers though – that’s in the full edition.

• What information does SQL safe Freeware Edition provide about backup and recovery operations?

  SQL safe Freeware Edition provides confirmation of successful backup or restore operations when you run it from the command line interface or extended stored procedures. If you run it in a job, then status information is provided through the SQL Server agent.

• Does SQL safe Freeware Edition install any code on the database server?

  Yes, it installs a tiny little backup agent, and optionally a simple XSP on the server that hosts the SQL Server Instance. You don't need to install any additional databases, tables, stored procedures etc. Also it runs outside the SQL Server address space so there is no interference with SQL Server operations.

• How does SQL safe FE perform backups on different instances on the same physical server?

  By default, SQL safe FE assumes that any of the functions you have chosen will be executed against the default instance of the SQL Server the agent is installed on. SQL safe FE will perform functions against another instance on the SQL Server when the ‘-instancename’ for CLI or ‘@instancename’ for XSP parameter is included. The following are examples that include the ‘instancename’ parameter:

  For CLI:
  SQL safeCMD Restore NORTHWIND c:\backups\2005\Northwind01.safe -instancename TEST

  For XSP:
  EXEC [master].[dbo].[xp_ss_restore] @database = ‘Northwind’, @filename = ‘c:\backups\2005\Northwind01.safe’, @instancename = ‘TEST’

Technical Questions

• What are the system requirements and prerequisites for SQL safe Freeware Edition?

  Microsoft .NET 2.0 and a supported operating system:

  • Windows 2000 SP3+
  • Windows 2003
  • Windows 2008
  • Windows XP (all service packs, 32- and 64-bit)
  • Windows Server 2003 (all service packs, 32- and 64-bit)
  • 32-bit backup agent on x64 platform is not supported
• What versions of Microsoft SQL Server does it support?

  Pretty much everything from 7.0 SP4 onwards:

  • SQL Server 7.0 SP4
  • MSDE 2000 SP3+
  • SQL Server 2000 (all versions and service packs, 32- and 64-bit except SQL Server 2000 on x64)
  • SQL Server 2005 Express
  • SQL Server 2005 (all versions and service packs, 32- and 64-bit)
  • SQL Server 2008
• What permissions are required for the SQL safe Backup Service logon account?

  The logon account for the SQL safe Backup Service requires the following permissions:

  The service account must be a member of the "system administrators" role on the SQL Server you intend to backup or restore.

  The service account must have the following local rights:

  • "log on as a service"
  • "impersonate a client after authentication" if running on Windows 2000 SP4 or later, or
  • "act as part of the operating system" if running on Windows 2000 SP3 or earlier.

  The service account will need permission to read and write registry values in "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software".

  When debug logging is enabled for the SQL safe Backup Service, it attempts to create log files in the root SQL safe directory (by default this is "C:\Program Files\Idera\SQL safe"), so the account will need permission to write to this location as well.

  As one final note, you may want to give the Backup Service account certain filesystem permissions when performing SQL safe restore operations using the "withmove" option.

  Because of these permission requirements it is often easiest -- although certainly not necessary -- to make the service account a member of the local administrators group on the SQL Server.

• What do I do if the SQL safe backup or restore operation fails and returns this error: “0x80070008 (not enough storage)”?

  
  CAUSE:
  This error indicates that SQL Server has run out of storage in its “MemToLeave” memory area. This memory area is set aside for all extended stored procedures, COM/OLE Automation objects and linked servers. The memory size is static and is set at the startup of SQL Server. Memory allocations by SQL Server larger than 8 KB are also made from the MemToLeave area.

  When performing a backup in SQL Server, SQL safe makes a call to create virtual device buffers. In SQL Server 2000, all of the buffers must be able to fit into one contiguous chunk of memory. If the MemToLeave area is heavily fragmented, SQL Server generates a “not enough storage” error due to a lack of contiguous memory. The probability of this issue occurring is greatly reduced in SQL Server 2005, which requires only that each individual buffer be in a contiguous chunk of memory.

  RESOLUTION:
  An updated version of the SQL Server virtual device interface that includes many enhancements to memory allocations is now available for Microsoft SQL Server 2000. The updated version is the same version as the one that is used by the most recent version of Microsoft SQL Server 2005. More information about this updated sqlvdi.dll is available from Microsoft's support website at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;935465 . (Article ID: 935465)

  This is a Microsoft SQL Server issue and Idera Technical Support strongly recommends that you obtain the hot fix from Microsoft using the link above. However, if you unable to apply this hot fix immediately, it may still be possible to work around this issue using the information below.

• How do I manually install or uninstall the SQL safe extended stored procedures (XSPs)?

  
  Permission Requirements:
  To successfully install the SQL safe XSPs, you must be able to log onto the target SQL Server instance through Query Analyzer. Your logon account must be a member of the "sysadmin" role to successfully connect to the SQL Server instance and install the SQL safe XSPs.

  If there is a previous install of the SQL safe XSPs on this SQL Server instance, you must uninstall the stored procedures and unload the DLL from SQL Server memory.

  To uninstall the previously installed SQL safe XSPs:

  1. Start Query Analyzer and connect to the target SQL Server instance.
  2. Unload the DLL from memory using the following T-SQL script:
     USE [master]
     DBCC SQLsafe_ExtendedStoredProc (free)
     GO
     If this step fails, stop and restart the SQL Server service, and then execute the script again.
  3. Drop the extended stored procedure(s) using the following T-SQL script:
     EXEC sp_dropextendedproc 'xp_ss_backup'
     EXEC sp_dropextendedproc 'xp_ss_restore'
     EXEC sp_dropextendedproc 'xp_ss_verify'
     EXEC sp_dropextendedproc 'xp_ss_list'
     GO
  4. Delete the SQLsafe_ExtendedStoredProc.dll from the "\binn" folder on each SQL server instance.

  To install the SQL safe XSPs:

  1. Copy the SQLsafe_ExtendedStoredProc.dll from the SQL safe install location (default is "C:\Program Files\Idera\SQL safe") to the following locations:
     <SQLserver instance install path>\MSSQL$<SQLServerInstanceName>\Binn folder on each named instance
     <SQLserver default install path>\MSSQL\Binn folder on the default instance

     By default, the SQL Server install path is C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server.

  2. Run the following script to register the SQL safe XSPs with SQL Server:
     USE [master]
     GO
     EXEC sp_addextendedproc 'xp_ss_backup', 'SQLsafe_ExtendedStoredProc.dll'
     EXEC sp_addextendedproc 'xp_ss_restore', 'SQLsafe_ExtendedStoredProc.dll'
     EXEC sp_addextendedproc 'xp_ss_verify', 'SQLsafe_ExtendedStoredProc.dll'
     EXEC sp_addextendedproc 'xp_ss_list', 'SQLsafe_ExtendedStoredProc.dll'

  3. Use the following script to grant a user the ability to backup and restore data using these extended stored procedures. Any user will need to use the stored procedures for backups and restores must have execute permissions on these XSPs. When you execute this script, replace [mydomain\jsmith] with the domain and logon name of the appropriate user account.
     GRANT EXEC ON [master].[dbo].[xp_ss_backup] TO [mydomain\jsmith]
     GRANT EXEC ON [master].[dbo].[xp_ss_restore] TO [mydomain\jsmith]
     GRANT EXEC ON [master].[dbo].[xp_ss_verify] TO [mydomain\jsmith]
     GRANT EXEC ON [master].[dbo].[xp_ss_list] TO [mydomain\jsmith]

     NOTE: The SQL safe XSPs run using the account under which SQL Server runs. This means that the SQL safe XSPs can access only the network resources that the SQL Server can access. However, if your backup script writes backup files to network shares, you can pass the appropriate credentials to the SQL safe XSPs using the @windowsusername and @windowspassword XSP parameters.

• Can I manage SQL safe Freeware Edition backup agents from the SQL safe Management Console?

  No, this functionality is not supported. SQL safe Freeware Edition Backup Agents will appear in the SQL safe Management Console, but no actions are possible for those Agents from the Management Console. If Management Console support is desired, please contact sales@idera.com to purchase the full edition of SQL safe.

• If I have two SQL Server instances on a server, can I back up one with SQL safe Freeware Edition and one with SQL safe?

  No, this functionality is not supported. It is not possible to install multiple SQL safe Backup Agents on the same machine.

If you have comments, feedback or need assistance with a topic that is not covered in the FAQ, please email us at freeware@idera.com.