Best Practices to Backing up a Microsoft SQL Database on Demand from the Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager Console

Products

• Endpoint Protection

Issue/Introduction

How do you backup and restore the Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager Microsoft SQL database?

Resolution

Backing up the SEPM Database
The console includes a site backup that you can use to back up and later restore the database.
In addition, you can set up a maintenance plan on the Microsoft SQL Server Agent.

The following procedure includes recommended settings.
You may need to use different settings depending on the following criteria:

• The size of your organization.
• The amount of disk space you have reserved for backups.
• Any required guidelines at your company.

To back up a Microsoft SQL database on demand from a Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager Console

1. In the console, click Admin, and then click Servers
2. Under View Servers, click the icon that represents the Microsoft SQL database
3. Under Tasks, click Back Up Site Now
4. Click Close.

This method backs up all of the site data, including the database. You can check the System log as well as the Backup folder for status during and after the backup.


Restore the SEPM Database

If the database no longer functions correctly, you can restore it if you previously backed it up.

To restore a database

1. Locate the latest backup file that you have. This file is in .zip format and labeled with the date. The file is stored in a backup folder that was created in the path that was specified for the server data root.
2. Set up the computer on which you want to restore the database by using one of the following strategies:
   • Using another computer
     If the hardware on the previous computer failed, you need to install the operating system and the Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager on the new computer. Even though you replace the database with new data, you still have to configure a database after you complete the installation.
   • Using the same computer
     If the hardware and the Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager function correctly, you can restore the database on the same computer. If you experience problems, you may want to uninstall the Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager, reinstall it, configure the database, and then restore the data.
3. Log off the Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager Console.
4. Stop the Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager service by selecting Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Services.
5. Locate the Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager service and then right-click to select Stop.
6. Select Start > Programs > Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager > Database Back Up and Restore.
7. Click Restore, and then click Yes in the message that appears.
8. In the Restoring Database dialog box, select the backup that you want to use from the list.
9. Click OK.
   
   NOTE:
   The restoration of the database takes a few minutes. The length of time it takes to complete the task depends on the size of the database, number of users, replication partners, and other criteria.
   
10. As soon as the restoration of the database is completed, the following message appears:
    Database has been restored successfully.
    
11. Click Exit.
    The database restoration is complete.
    
    Important Note:
    If you restored the database to a different computer instead of the original computer, you need to delete the old database server.
    
12. Click Start > Programs >Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager
13. Log on to the console.
14. Click Admin.
15. Click Servers.
16. In the Admin page, under Tasks, right-click the old database server and select
    Delete.
17. Reconfigure additional criteria, such as user names and password, if necessary.