SIMS Backups with SQL 2005

Hi people,

I've got a bit of a space issue when it comes to backing up SIMS.
SQL 2005 does its usual backup of the SIMS database and so, obviously, the backup files mount up over time and take up space.
I'm fairly certain (correct me if I'm wrong) that there is some facility within SQL 2005 to do a "clean up" once in a while of old backups earlier than a certain date.

If anyone knows about this and can shed any light, it would be useful.

Thanks.

Open SIMS .net, go in to System Manager, click on the Tools menu and choose 'Tidy Backups'. Whichever backup you have selected when you click 'Tidy' will be removed and also any which are older.

Stuart

Thanks.

I'm aware of this within SIMS .NET.
Apologies for not being specific but I thought there was an automatic facility within SQL 2005.

Ah - no idea, sorry. Would be interested though!

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Originally Posted by paulsharpe

Thanks.

I'm aware of this within SIMS .NET.
Apologies for not being specific but I thought there was an automatic facility within SQL 2005.

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When you create your maintenance plan in SQL2005, it should have 2 parts showing in the diagram window looking something like the attachment. If it doesn't, you can add one from the "Maintenance Plan Tasks" palette which should be on the left hand side of the SQL Management Studio window.

Be aware that SIMS.net does its own db backups prior to every upgrade and these may well be clobbered after your cleanup cutoff (2 weeks in my example) so you might want to move them to a safe place.

@sahmeepee Many thanks for your help.

After looking at what you suggested, I noticed the Maintenance Cleanup Tasks had been set up but there was no file extension specified. I've specified the .bak extension, ran a test and it worked perfectly.

Thanks again.