How to backup the vCenter database when using the SQL 2005 Express Edition

If you’re running a vCenter server in combination with the free SQL 2005 Express Edition which is installed by default, there are a few drawbacks. The first problem is sizing, the SQL 2005 express database cannot grow above the 4 Gb limit. You can use the database calculator to check if the number of ESX servers and virtual machines will fit into the 4 Gb. The second drawback is the absence of an SQL agent which can be used to create a scheduled backup for your vCenter database. I’ve found a little free tool which is capable of creating a scheduled backup of the vCenter database even though it’s hosted on the SQL 2005 Express edition.

The SQLScheduler v0.2.0.0 – Beta is a fully functional client/server application written in C# that allows administrators to schedule various SQL jobs for SQL Server Express and other versions of SQL Server. The server component (SQLScheduler.WindowsService.exe) is a Windows service that is responsible for executing jobs and sending success or failure notifications to server operators. SQLScheduler.exe is a graphical front-end that allows to easily schedule different jobs.

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This is not the only available tool for SQL Express backups.
Google 'ExpressMaint' for one tool, then 'Ola Hallengren' for an even better SQL backup script tool.
HTH Tom

#1 Tom on 2009-12-06 18:35 (Reply)

Thanks Tom,

http://www.codeplex.com/ExpressMaint

Looks great

#1.1 Eric Sloof (Homepage) on 2009-12-06 19:21 (Reply)

Two links about Ola's scripts. BTW he works for a major bank and his scripts are used therein.

http://sqlblog.com/blogs/jonathan_kehayias/archive/2009/08/26/ola-hallengren-releases-new-version-of-backup-integrity-check-and-index-optimization-scripts.aspx

http://ola.hallengren.com/

#2 Tom on 2009-12-06 21:18 (Reply)

If your backup software (Like Veeam) supports VSS then don't have a problem to fix. For this kinda of database there's no need for brick-level restoration so using Veeam/VSS you have a consistent snapshot of the VC database.

#3 Ricky El-Qasem (Homepage) on 2009-12-07 20:49 (Reply)

Well, it doesn't help with getting rid of the transaction log file of the database.

The backup will.

Ofcourse VSS will make sure that the database is in a consitant state but it will not purge the transaction log.

I know people who did have a 16 GB log file because they did never run a SQL Backup.

#3.1 Marcus Breiden on 2009-12-10 12:24 (Reply)

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NTPRO.NL - Eric Sloof

Sunday, 6 December 2009

How to backup the vCenter database when using the SQL 2005 Express Edition

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