EXPIREDATE (on the backup command)

[HobbyMan]

I have my backup setup as follows:

DECLARE @theDate DATETIME
SET @theDate=GETDATE()+7

BACKUP DATABASE CustomerSupport TO CustomerSupport WITH EXPIREDATE=@theDate

I thought I understood the EXPIREDATE parameter.

Could someone tell me what is supposed to happen when the expiredate is reached?
How can I use the expiredate?

Lance

 

[RickCole]

When the expiredate is reached it means the backup set can now be overwritten.

If you try to do prior to the expiredate then SQL Server will fail you backup command.

Basically it's a way of protecting your backups so someone doesn't trash over them until it is safe to do so.

Rick.