Why is SQL Server Backup 4x Larger than RMS Backup?

Posted by Dhruva on August 23, 2009, 12:45 am

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I normally back up my Store Operations installation with the Backup command
under the Utility menu. The files are around 130 MB.

Now I want to automate backups, so I set up a backup plan in SQL Server 2005
(Std. Edition). However, when it runs, it produces a backup file of more than
400 MB.

Can anyone tell me why the SQL Server backup is so much larger?

Thanks

Posted by Andy Miller - R on August 24, 2009, 10:55 pm

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I don't know the exact answer to your question, but if you zip up your backup
files. it will compress them to 1/2 the size. I've found if i zip up a backup
file that is 200mb, the .zip file will be nearly 100mb in size.
--
Regards,
Andy Miller
RVP Business Systems - Boise, Idaho
(208) 376-8121
www.rvpsystems.com

"Dhruva" wrote:

> I normally back up my Store Operations installation with the Backup command

> under the Utility menu. The files are around 130 MB.

> Now I want to automate backups, so I set up a backup plan in SQL Server 2005

> (Std. Edition). However, when it runs, it produces a backup file of more than

> 400 MB.

> Can anyone tell me why the SQL Server backup is so much larger?

> Thanks

Posted by Ryan on August 26, 2009, 10:08 am

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Even better than standard Zip is 7zip (www.7zip.org). A free utility that
can compress far more than Zip or Rar.

--
Thank you,
Ryan Sakry
Program Manager
Retail Information Technology Enterprises
320-230-2288
rsakry@rite.us
http://www.rite.us

>I don't know the exact answer to your question, but if you zip up your

>backup

> files. it will compress them to 1/2 the size. I've found if i zip up a

> backup

> file that is 200mb, the .zip file will be nearly 100mb in size.

> --

> Regards,

> Andy Miller

> RVP Business Systems - Boise, Idaho

> (208) 376-8121

> www.rvpsystems.com

> "Dhruva" wrote:

>> I normally back up my Store Operations installation with the Backup

>> command

>> under the Utility menu. The files are around 130 MB.

>> Now I want to automate backups, so I set up a backup plan in SQL Server

>> 2005

>> (Std. Edition). However, when it runs, it produces a backup file of more

>> than

>> 400 MB.

>> Can anyone tell me why the SQL Server backup is so much larger?

>> Thanks

Posted by Matt Kent on August 31, 2009, 11:57 am

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My immediate guess would be that you are using Append when you are backing up
your DB. When backing up SQL server, I always recommend you configure it
under Management Studio or use a backup application like Red-Gate.

"Dhruva" wrote:

> I normally back up my Store Operations installation with the Backup command

> under the Utility menu. The files are around 130 MB.

> Now I want to automate backups, so I set up a backup plan in SQL Server 2005

> (Std. Edition). However, when it runs, it produces a backup file of more than

> 400 MB.

> Can anyone tell me why the SQL Server backup is so much larger?

> Thanks