Geotab Support Forum

How do I backup my current database? What files do I need to backup and where are they located?

Hi Jason,

If you are using MS SQL, you can backup your database using SQL Management Studio. On the database server, follow these steps to backup your database:

1. Open SQL Management Studio
2. Expand the Databases node. Right click your database and select Tasks->Backup
3. Under destination choose 'Backup to disk' and select the path to backup your database
4. Click OK to backup

This creates a .bak file, which you can use to restore the database at a later time. To restore the database follow these steps on the database server:

1. Open SQL Management Studio
2. Expand the Database node. Right click your database and select Tasks->Restore->Database
3. Select 'From Device' and click the button labeled '...'
4. Select the .bak file you wish to restore
5. Click OK to restore the database.

Note: Restoring a database will delete any data which was entered into the database after the backup was performed.

You only mention the one backup method for SQL, does that mean this is a misprint?
"Please note that the archiving function is only available for Microsoft Access™ databases and NOT Microsoft SQL databases."
Quoted from the GEOTAB help file.

AJ,
It is not a misprint, archival and backup are two different functions. A backup is effectively a slightly compressed copy of the database, whereas an archive is a historic database with data that is no longer in the main database. This second function is not supported for SQL databases.
Hope this answers your question.