Quicker backups by ignoring index data

March 4, 2008

Sick of how slow backups can run, even though you’re using compression from some tool like Hyperbac?

Greg Linwood‘s had a good idea to help. A large amount of the data in any database system is the data stored in indexes (copies of the data in tables, just ordered differently) to help your queries run faster, so if you can tell the system to backup the database without that data, then it should work a whole lot faster.

Of course, when you restore a smaller backup, it should a lot quicker – but you won’t have the indexes in place yet. But you still have the option of letting them rebuild, so you ought to be able to get your system back up quicker (although potentially doing table-scans for a while).

If you like this idea, let Microsoft know, at https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=331220

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