SQL Server online backup with MozyPro

Question

Anyone using MozyPro to backup SQL Server databases?

I'm concerned about the way it does the backup. It just copies data files the way they are. Not using the backup database command.

Is it safe?

Answer 1

MozyPro uses the Volume Shadow Service (VSS) to create backups for SQL Server. SQL Server 2005 has been engineered so that VSS backups are consistent. So this is definitely a valid way to back up SQL Server databases.

Here is a white paper on how the SQL Server 2005 SQL Writer works with VSS.

Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005 provides support for creating snapshots from SQL Server data using Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS). This is accomplished by providing a VSS compliant writer (the SQL writer) so that a third-party backup application can use the VSS framework to back up database files. This paper describes the SQL writer component and its role in the VSS snapshot creation and restore process for SQL Server databases. It also captures details on how to configure and use the SQL writer to work with backup applications in the context of the VSS framework.

Here is the MozyPro manual (PDF), which describes how to restore SQL Server backups that were made using VSS.

That being said, if you don't trust this method, there is nothing stopping you from setting up a backup job and just having Mozy backup your *.bak files.

Answer 2

Judging by the hell I am currently going through with Mozy.. NO NO NO! The backups work, in theory, just not the restore part. Mozy's extreme incremental backup system results in restores that can take weeks. Apparently. I'm still waiting despite talking their top level tech support, over 10 days have passed.