Auto backup of database

How to automatically backup SQL or Access on server?

[William_W]

I have two websites - one uses Access as the database, the other SQL. How do I have these databases automatically make a backup copy of itself every say, 12 hours, without affecting the way data is written onto them?

I recently moved to a new hosting company. At the previous servers, the databases were automatically backed up every 24 hours or so. Was there a script/program of some kind used?

Any help will be great. Bear in mind I'm no techie :). Thanks very much.

[txbakers]

If it's a windows server you can set up auto-save jobs through the job scheduler (the command is NTBACKUP).

Unix servers have something called a CRON job which I don't understand, but it seems to be the same idea.

I use a program called Veritas which will auto-backup what you specify. It's saved my butt more than once.

[bakedjake]

SQL Server has built-in backup software that works wonderfully.

Do you have shell access or remote access to any of these machines (access to run programs, not just FTP)?

If not, you'll have to have your provider do it for you. For the non SQL Server stuff, you can simply zip and go.

[mnamesir]

Access is an ISAM (Indexed Structed Access Method) database, meaning it can be backed up like any ole file... Just by copying the database file (MDB/MDE) and any 'workgroup' file (MDA, MDW) to your backup media.
SQL server has transaction logs and other items that make it so you can't just copy the files to your backup media -

(If your Access DB is on-line/on the WWW, you will have to d/l first and back it up to your locak backup media)