About NetBackup for SQL Server schedule properties

This topic describes the schedule properties that have a different meaning for database backups than for file system backups. Other schedule properties vary according to your specific backup strategy and system configuration. Additional information about other schedule properties is available.

See the NetBackup Administrator's Guide, Volume I.

Table: Description of schedule properties

Property	Description
Type of backup	Specifies the type of backup that this schedule controls. The selection list shows only the backup types that apply to the policy you want to configure. See About the types of NetBackup for SQL Server backups.
Schedule type	You can schedule a backup in one of the following ways: Frequency This setting is used only for scheduled backups. It is not used for user-directed backups. Frequency specifies the period of time that can elapse until the next backup or archive operation begins on this schedule. For example, assume that the frequency is seven days and a successful backup occurs on Wednesday. The next full backup does not occur until the following Wednesday. Typically, incremental backups have a shorter frequency than full backups. Calendar This setting is used only for scheduled backups. It is not used for user-directed backups. The Calendar option allows you to schedule backup operations that are based on specific dates, recurring week days, or recurring days of the month.
Retention	The retention period for an Application Backup schedule refers to the length of time that NetBackup keeps backup images (stream-based backups). The retention period for an automatic schedule controls how long NetBackup keeps records of when scheduled backups occurred (proxy backups). For example, if your database is backed up once every Sunday morning, you should select a retention period of at least 2 weeks. The retention period is affected by the type of schedule you select, as follows: Frequency-based scheduling Set a retention period that is longer than the frequency setting for the schedule. For example, if the frequency setting is set to one week, set the retention period to be more than one week. The NetBackup scheduler compares the latest record of the automatic backup schedule to the frequency of that automatic backup schedule to determine whether a backup is due. This means that if you set the retention period to expire the record too early, the scheduled backup frequency is unpredictable. However, if you set the retention period to be longer than necessary, the NetBackup catalog accumulates unnecessary records. Calendar-based scheduling The retention period setting is not significant for calendar-based scheduling.
Multiple copies	If you want to specify multiple copies of a backup for the policy, configure Multiple copies on the Application Backup schedule.