What is a simple command line program or script to backup SQL server databases?

sql-server command-line scripting backup
Frank Krueger picture Frank Krueger · Sep 23, 2008 · Viewed 236.2k times · Source

I've been too lax with performing DB backups on our internal servers.

Is there a simple command line program that I can use to backup certain databases in SQL Server 2005? Or is there a simple VBScript?

Answer

Craig Trader picture Craig Trader · Sep 23, 2008

To backup a single database from the command line, use osql or sqlcmd.

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Tools\Binn\osql.exe" 
    -E -Q "BACKUP DATABASE mydatabase TO DISK='C:\tmp\db.bak' WITH FORMAT"

You'll also want to read the documentation on BACKUP and RESTORE and general procedures.

Related questions

Execute SQL script from command line

I need to alter a database using a batch file, for a simple example, drop a table. I´m using local SQL Express (SQL Server 2008 R2) with user sa and its password. How would the bat file be? How can …

Read More
SQL Server command line backup statement

Does any one know if there is a way to script out SQL Server backup in to a batch file, so that it could be executed from a command line?

Read More
How do I UPDATE from a SELECT in SQL Server?

In SQL Server, it is possible to insert rows into a table with an INSERT.. SELECT statement: INSERT INTO Table (col1, col2, col3) SELECT col1, col2, col3 FROM other_table WHERE sql = 'cool' Is it also possible to update a …

Read More