SQL BACKUP DATABASE for SQL Server
The SQL BACKUP DATABASE Statement
The BACKUP DATABASE statement is used in SQL Server to create a full back up of an existing SQL database.
Syntax
BACKUP DATABASE databasename
TO DISK = 'filepath';
The SQL BACKUP WITH DIFFERENTIAL Statement
A differential back up only backs up the parts of the database that have changed since the last full database backup.
Syntax
BACKUP DATABASE databasename
TO DISK = 'filepath'
WITH
DIFFERENTIAL;
BACKUP DATABASE Example
The following SQL statement creates a full back up of the existing database "testDB" to the D disk:
Example
BACKUP DATABASE testDB
TO DISK = 'D:\backups\testDB.bak';
Tip: Always back up the database to a different drive than the actual database. Then, if you get a disk crash, you will not lose your backup file along with the database.
BACKUP WITH DIFFERENTIAL Example
The following SQL statement creates a differential back up of the database "testDB":
Example
BACKUP DATABASE testDB
TO DISK = 'D:\backups\testDB.bak'
WITH
DIFFERENTIAL;
Tip: A differential back up reduces the back up time (since only the changes are backed up).
