This article provides step by step instructions on how to backup an SQL database on the Microsoft Azure cloud using SQL jobs. The SQL server provides built-in functionality for backups to the Azure cloud. This includes restoration of a previous version of the database in two ways, either the latest download, or using a specific URL link to a backup file stored on the cloud.
The following procedure assumes that a storage with a container has already been created in the Microsoft Azure Portal. The backup can be implemented with the following steps.
Step 1: Create a new SQL job as shown in the following screenshot:
Step 2: Create credentials in the Security section for connecting to the Azure cloud as shown below:
The “Identity” field should be filled in with the Microsoft Azure storage name. The password is the primary key used in creating Manage Access Keys on Azure cloud.
Step 3: Use the following code in the SQL job step Transact-SQL Script (T-SQL) and select the desired database to be backed up to Azure cloud.
DECLARE @path VARCHAR(500)
DECLARE @name VARCHAR(500)
DECLARE @filename VARCHAR(256)
DECLARE @time DATETIME
DECLARE @year VARCHAR(4)
DECLARE @month VARCHAR(2)
DECLARE @day VARCHAR(2)
DECLARE @hour VARCHAR(2)
DECLARE @minute VARCHAR(2)
DECLARE @second VARCHAR(2)
SELECT @time = GETDATE()
SELECT @year = (SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(4), DATEPART(yy, @time)))
SELECT @month = (SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(2), FORMAT(DATEPART(mm,@time),’00’)))
SELECT @day = (SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(2), FORMAT(DATEPART(dd,@time),’00’)))
SELECT @hour = (SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(2), FORMAT(DATEPART(hh,@time),’00’)))
SELECT @minute = (SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(2), FORMAT(DATEPART(mi,@time),’00’)))
SELECT @second = (SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(2), FORMAT(DATEPART(ss,@time),’00’)))
set @name = ‘[Database Name…]‘;
SET @fileName = @name + ‘_backup_’ + @year + @month + @day + ‘_’ + @hour + @minute + @second + ‘.BAK’
set @path = N’https://[Azure Cloud Url path with container name…]/’ + @fileName;
BACKUP DATABASE [Database Name…]
TO URL = @path
WITH CREDENTIAL = N’[Database Name…]Credential’ , NOFORMAT, NOINIT,
NAME = N'[Database Name…]-Full Database Backup’, NOSKIP, NOREWIND, NOUNLOAD, STATS = 10
GO
Step 4: Add the desired schedule (daily, weekly or monthly) in the schedules tab and specify exact time for creating a backup on the Azure cloud. Don’t forget to ‘Enable’ the job after completing the time schedule.
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