This topic describes how to back up an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance. You can configure a backup policy that allows ApsaraDB RDS to automatically back up your RDS instance. You can also manually back up your RDS instance.

Precautions

  • Backup files do not occupy the storage capacity that you purchased for your RDS instance. Each RDS instance is allocated a free quota for backup storage. If your usage exceeds the free quota, you are charged for the excess usage. We recommend that you specify a backup cycle based on your business requirements to make the best use of the free quota. For more information, see View the free quota for backup storage of an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
  • You must familiarize yourself with the billing methods and billable items of backup storage. For more information, see Pricing, billable items, and billing methods.
  • You must familiarize yourself with the billing standards of backup storage. For more information, see Backup storage fees of an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
  • We recommend that you back up your RDS instance during off-peak hours and do not execute DDL statements during a backup. DDL statements trigger locks on tables, and the backup may fail as a result of the locks.
  • If your RDS instance contains a large amount of data, a backup may require a long period of time.
  • Backup files are retained based on the retention period that you specify. Before the specified retention period elapses, we recommend that you download the backup files that you require to your computer.
  • If your RDS instance runs the RDS Basic Edition, High-availability Edition, or Cluster Edition, your RDS instance collects traffic statistics from the network interface controllers of the operating system that is used. In this case, the volume of traffic on your RDS instance surges during a backup.

Overview of data backups and log backups

Database engine Data backup Log backup
SQL Server
  • Physical backups
    • Full physical backups and incremental physical backups are supported. Logical backups are not supported.
    • Automatic backups are performed based on the backup cycle that you specify. The backup cycle consists of three phases: a full backup, an incremental backup, and another incremental backup. For example, if a full backup is performed on Monday, an incremental backup is separately performed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then, a full backup is performed again on Thursday, and an incremental backup is separately performed again on Friday and Saturday. The backup cycle continues until you modify the backup policy of your RDS instance.
      Note If a manual full backup is performed within a backup cycle, two consecutive incremental backups are automatically performed within the next two days following the manual full backup.
    • Backups on individual databases are supported. You can back up one or more databases of your RDS instance at a time.
    • SQL Server shrinks transaction logs during each backup. You can log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console and go to the Backup and Restoration page of your RDS instance. Then, you can click Shrink Transaction Log to manually shrink transaction logs.
  • Snapshot backups

    Full snapshot backups are performed based on the backup cycle that you specify.

  • ApsaraDB RDS automatically backs up the binary logs of your RDS instance based on the backup frequency that you specify. ApsaraDB RDS supports the following two backup frequencies:
    • Same as Data Backup
    • Every 30 Minutes

    The total size of log backup files does not vary based on the backup frequency that you specify.

    Note The backup frequency for snapshot backups is fixed to Every 30 Minutes and cannot be changed.
  • The log backup feature cannot be disabled.
  • You can specify a log backup retention period. The log backup retention period that you specify must be within the range of 7 days to 730 days.
  • You can download log backup files.
Note If the Backup Frequency parameter is set to Every 30 Minutes, you can restore the data of your RDS instance to a specific point in time within the last 30 minutes in the event of SSD damage or other unexpected failures. This is supported when your RDS instance runs the RDS Basic Edition.

Configure a backup policy for automatic backups

ApsaraDB RDS can automatically back up your instance based on the backup policy that you specify.

  1. Visit the RDS instance list, select a region above, and click the target instance ID.
  2. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backup and Restoration.
  3. On the Backup and Restoration page, click the Backup Settings tab. In the Data Backup Settings section, click Edit.
  4. Configure the following parameters and click Save.
    Parameter Description
    Data Backup Retention The number of days for which you want to retain data backup files. Valid values: 7 to 730. Unit: days. Default value: 7.
    Backup Cycle The cycle based on which you want to create backups. You can select one or more days of the week.
    Note For data security purposes, we recommend that you back up your RDS instance at least twice a week.
    The backup method that you want to use. Valid values:
    • Snapshot Backup: ApsaraDB RDS backs up the data from standard SSDs or enhanced SSDs (ESSDs) at a specific point in time. The backup speed is fast. For more information, see Enable snapshot backups for an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
    • Physical Backup: This is the default backup method. ApsaraDB RDS produces replicas for the data of your RDS instance. The backup speed is slow.
    Backup Time The hour at which you want to create a backup.
    Backup Frequency
    • Same as Data Backup
    • Every 30 Minutes

    The total size of log backup files does not vary based on the backup frequency that you specify.

    Note If you select the Snapshot Backup method, the backup frequency is fixed to Every 30 Minutes and cannot be changed.
    Log Retention Period (Days) The number of days for which you want to retain log backup files. The log backup retention period is the same as the period that is specified by the Data Backup Retention parameter.

Manually back up your RDS instance

  1. Visit the RDS instance list, select a region above, and click the target instance ID.
  2. In the upper-right corner of the page, click Back Up Instance to open the Back Up Instance dialog box.
  3. Configure the following parameters and click OK.
    Parameter Description
    Backup Policy
    • Snapshot Backup: ApsaraDB RDS backs up the data from standard SSDs or enhanced SSDs (ESSDs) at a specific point in time. The backup speed is fast. For more information, see Enable snapshot backups for an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
    • Physical Backup: This is the default backup method. ApsaraDB RDS produces replicas for the data of your RDS instance. The backup speed is slow.
    Note Snapshot Backup is available only when the snapshot backup feature is enabled. For more information, see Enable snapshot backups for an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
    Select Backup Mode
    • Full Backup: ApsaraDB RDS immediately performs a full backup.
    • Automatic Backup: ApsaraDB RDS immediately performs a full backup or an incremental backup.
      Note Automatic Backup is available only when you set the Backup Policy parameter to Physical Backup.
    Backup Policy This parameter is available only when you set the Select Backup Mode parameter to Full Backup.
    • Instance Backup: ApsaraDB RDS backs up all the data of your RDS instance.
    • Database/Table Backup: ApsaraDB RDS backs up only the databases that you specify. This option is available only when you set the Backup Policy parameter to Physical Backup.
      Note If you select Database/Table Backup, you must select databases from the left-side list and click the > icon to move the selected databases to the right-side list. If no databases are created on your RDS instance, you must create databases before you back up your RDS instance. For more information, see Create a database on an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
  4. Click the Task Progress icon icon in the upper-right corner of the page to view the progress of the backup task that you created.
    Note After the backup task is completed, you can go to the Backup and Restoration page to download the backup file that is generated from the backup task. Some RDS instances do not support the download of backup files. For more information, see Download the data and log backup files of an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.

FAQ

  1. Can I disable the data backup feature for my RDS instance?

    No, you cannot disable the data backup feature for your RDS instance. However, you can reduce the backup frequency to at least twice a week. The data backup retention period must be within the range of 7 days to 730 days.

  2. Can I disable the log backup feature for my RDS instance?

    No, you cannot disable the log backup feature for your RDS instance.

Operations

Operation Description
Create a backup task Creates a data backup for an ApsaraDB RDS instance.
Query data backup files Queries the data backup files of an ApsaraDB RDS instance.
Query backup settings Queries the backup settings of an ApsaraDB RDS instance.
Modify backup settings Modifies the backup settings of an ApsaraDB RDS instance.
Query backup tasks Queries the backup tasks of an ApsaraDB RDS instance.
Query log backup files Queries the log backup files of an ApsaraDB RDS instance.