Note: Before the following can be actioned, the instance (server) to which the database belongs must be registered with Microsoft SQL Server and Enterprise Manager,

To implement a full backup using Enterprise Manager, expand the SQL Server to display your databases. Right-click on the database and select All Tasks | Backup Database to access the options shown in Figure A.

1. Under Backup, choose Database - Complete.
2. Then, select a destination (tape or disk). If this is the first backup of your database, you will have to create a backup device or file. A backup device is simply a location that stores your backups. A backup file can also hold multiple ôbackups.
3. To create a backup device or file, start by clicking Add.
4. Next, select either File Name or Backup Device. Figure B shows the dialog box you'll see if you choose Backup Device.
5. Then, just define the appropriate path and click OK.
6. Once you've created the device or file, you can select it from the Destination list box.

The SQL Server Backup dialog box also includes options to append to a backup or overwrite it. This means that you can add multiple backups to your file or device or overwrite previous backups with the most current one.
If you want to schedule your backups, select the Schedule check box and then click the button that has three dots on it. In the Edit Schedule dialog box, shown in Figure C, make your scheduling specifications.

You can choose from the following options:

• Start Automatically When SQL Server Agent Starts
• Start Whenever CPU(s) Become Idle
• One Time
• Recurring

Enterprise Manager also allows you to set a variety of other options via the SQL Server Backup dialog box. If you click on the Options tab, you can choose the following:

• Verify Backup Upon Completion
• Eject Tape After Backup
• Remove Inactive Entries From Transaction Log
• Check Media Set Name And Backup Set Expiration
• Backup Set Will Expire (You supply an expiration date.)
• Initialise And Label Media

A differential backup backs up only the data that has changed since the last full backup. These backups are generally smaller than a full backup and can be used frequently since they run much faster. To perform a differential backup in Enterprise Manager, choose the Database-Differential option in the SQL Server Backup dialog box (shown in Figure A).

To perform transaction-log backups with Enterprise Manager, choose the Transaction Log option in the SQL Server Backup dialog box.

Note: Before the above can be actioned, the instance (server) to which the database belongs must be registered with Microsoft SQL Server and Enterprise Manager,