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it is 2 tasks: sql agent will let you backup to tape directly from sql server (will use native sql server code - in some cases when sql server does not support compression - can be space consuming - in this case 3rd party sql server backup with compression is better solution - backup to NTFS as file- and to the tape (BE sql agent may no need at all)<br />
--<br />
2nd part - check BE documentation:<br />
<br />
About managing Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) files in Backup Exec<br />
<a href="http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO73355" rel="ugc">http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO73355</a><br />
<br />
About backing up data<br />
<a href="http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO73362#v53893380" rel="ugc">http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO73362#v53893380</a>
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it is 2 tasks: sql agent will let you backup to tape directly from sql server (will use native sql server code - in some cases when sql server does not support compression - can be space consuming - in this case 3rd party sql server backup with compression is better solution - backup to NTFS as file- and to the tape (BE sql agent may no need at all)
--
2nd part - check BE documentation:

About managing Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) files in Backup Exec
http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO73355 [http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO73355]

About backing up data
http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO73362#v53893380 [http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO73362#v53893380]

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Question...<br />
<br />
I'm using Backup Exec to backup a hyper-v server and a few SQL servers. When using the SQL agent and the Microsoft Virtual Server agent, do I also need to backup the .vhds and the sql directories containing the database files/.vhds or does the agent do this for me?<br />
<br />
Everything is running fine but I'm having issues as far as space is concerned. Just want to make sure I'm not backing up everything twice.
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Question...

I'm using Backup Exec to backup a hyper-v server and a few SQL servers. When using the SQL agent and the Microsoft Virtual Server agent, do I also need to backup the .vhds and the sql directories containing the database files/.vhds or does the agent do this for me?

Everything is running fine but I'm having issues as far as space is concerned. Just want to make sure I'm not backing up everything twice.

Backup Exec and Agents. (Hyper-v and SQL)

Microsoft server applications are those applications developed specifically, but not necessarily exclusively, on the Windows Server platform. In addition to well-known products like SQL Server, Exchange, Internet Information Services (IIS), Microsoft Dynamics, Forefront, Lync and Sharepoint, they include applications like Skype, BizTalk, Hyper-V, Groove and Commerce Server. Server applications are managed with the Microsoft System Center.

Microsoft Server Apps

Microsoft SQL Server is a suite of relational database management system (RDBMS) products providing multi-user database access functionality.SQL Server is available in multiple versions, typically identified by release year, and versions are subdivided into editions to distinguish between product functionality. Component services include integration (SSIS), reporting (SSRS), analysis (SSAS), data quality, master data, T-SQL and performance tuning.

Microsoft SQL Server

The term "Backup" means the methods and processes involved to copy computer data (system data as well as application data) to media other than the ones where the data originally live (disk, tape, optical, cloud). "Restore" in turn means the methods and processes involved in data recovery, i. e., bringing back copied computer data to their original location. Backup/Restore primarily serves as a means of protection against data loss, be it due to disaster, corruption or sabotage. It can also be used for recovering data from an earlier point in time and even for cloning machines or applications. There is a wide variety of backup/restore software available, from expensive commercial products to free or open source tools.

Storage Software

Hyper-V is a native hypervisor; it can create virtual machines on x86-64 systems and supersedes Windows Virtual PC as the hardware virtualization component of the client editions of Windows NT. A server computer running Hyper-V can be configured to expose individual virtual machines to one or more networks. Hyper-V Server supports remote access via Remote Desktop Connection. Administration and configuration of the host OS and the guest virtual machines is generally done over the network.