Backup Script to create a zip file from a .BAK file automatically

[tkatlas]

I would like to have a job run automatically to scan a directory and zip the database backup file and then transfer to another server to be backed up to tape.  Does anyone have a sample script or any suggestions on the best way to perform this.  Any help would be GREAT ! Thanks,

 

[AlunR]

You will need the Winzip command line program - its available @

http://www.winzip.com

Plenty of documentation there to go with it.

 

[tlbroadbent]

Note: Backup files are already compressed. You won't gain much by zipping them. In addition, most tape backup system also compress files.

You'll only make the process to restore databases more complex and lengthy. Instead of recovering a single file from tape you'll have to recover the larger zip file, extract the file you need and then restore the database. If your ZIP program can read from tape, I guess that wouldn't be an issue. From a DBA point of view, I would recommend that you avoid the extra steps and complexity. Terry L. Broadbent - DBA
Computing Links:

http://tlbroadbent.home.attbi.com/prog.htm

faq183-874 contains "Suggestions for Getting Quick and Appropriate Answers" to your questions in the SQL Server forum. Many of the ideas apply to all forums.

 

[dhoward007]

I would say this, the backups are compressed a little but nowhere near what winzip can do.. We have a 2.2 gig database and it backs up to 1.7 gigs.. but if I zip it using winzip, it is only 225 megs..

Winzip does seem to work well. I have not tried it on larger databases though..

 

[fluteplr]

If you really need to get good compression on a backup. For example if you need to ftp it somewhere (something I do alot.)

Use winrar set to their best commpression ratio. It is about 25% better than the best winzip compression. .5 gig database backups regularly compress to around 50-60 megs.