How would I backup an SQL 2008 DB on a remote computer using Maintenance Plan Wizard?

I would like to schedule backups of our SQL 2008 DBs onto a remote computer using the
Maintenance Plan Wizard. I see how to do this on a local computer. However, the option to
use a shared drive is not offered. How would I do this?

PDSWSSAsked: 2011-03-08

Who is Participating?

[Product update] Infrastructure Analysis Tool is now available with Business Accounts.Learn More

Experts Exchange Solution brought to you by

Enjoy your complimentary solution view.

Get every solution instantly with Premium. Start your 7-day free trial.

I wear a lot of hats...

"The solutions and answers provided on Experts Exchange have been extremely helpful to me over the last few years. I wear a lot of hats - Developer, Database Administrator, Help Desk, etc., so I know a lot of things but not a lot about one thing. Experts Exchange gives me answers from people who do know a lot about one thing, in a easy to use platform." -Todd S.

LVL 55

Vitor MontalvãoMSSQL Senior EngineerCommented: 2011-03-09

You won't see the share when you create the maintenance plan but you can write full path (something like

\\ComputerName\ShareName

). Will work fine.

Good luck

LVL 75

Anthony PerkinsCommented: 2011-03-09

Make sure the startup account for the SQL Server and SQL Server Agent services have the appropriate permissions (they are not Local System accounts)

LVL 28

Ryan McCauleyEnterprise Analytics ManagerCommented: 2011-03-09

If you're talking about using a mapped drive, that's not available because the SQL Server doesn't see the mapped drives the user sees, since they run in different sessions. If you just want to back up to a remote location though, you can just provide the UNC path to your remote folder in your backup location - something like "\\REMOTESERVER\SomeBackupFolder\".

Also, you have the option of setting up your maintenance plan on another server and then taking backups from your main server and storing them locally (on the remote server). To do this, you'd create the maintenance plan on your remote server, and at the top of the page, where it asks you what connection you'll be backing up, point it to your SQL Server.

Experts Exchange Solution brought to you by

Your issues matter to us.

Facing a tech roadblock? Get the help and guidance you need from experienced professionals who care. Ask your question anytime, anywhere, with no hassle.

Start your 7-day free trial

PDSWSSAuthor Commented: 2011-03-09

Thanks for the suggestions. As soon as I have time I will test them.

PDSWSSAuthor Commented: 2011-03-11

I get the attached error when I enter \\server\shared$ even though the server is not mapped to this drive.

What is causing this? Thanks
Picture-3.png