Backup SQL Database to Local Machine or External Drive Remotely
Published: July 25th, 2024 • 7 Min Read
Keeping the regular backups of your SQL database is essential to protect critical information & avoid data loss. We will explore how to backup SQL database to local machine or external drive remotely with this guide. Whether you prefer manual methods or automated solutions, we’ll provide clear steps and considerations for both to ensure data integrity and accessibility.
Moreover, we can add that users need to safeguard crucial valuable data from accidental deletion, hardware failures, & threats. For this, they must be ready with a robust backup strategy. Let’s dive in to know this topic in and out & be a master of SQL backups.
Why Backup Remote SQL Server Database to Local Drive on Machine?
Backing up your remote SQL Server database to a local drive offers several reasons influenced by advantages. Even though these might differ from user to user. However, the most common ones are listed below:
Faster Restore Operations: If users backup SQL database to disk locally, then they can restore it really fast whenever they need. Restoring the database from a local system is very efficient & safe in comparison to other ways.
Smooth Disaster Recovery: Coping up from a sudden disaster becomes easy as there is no need to wait for the restoration process. It reduces the RTO (Recovery Time Objective). Plus it acts as a counterplan to threats like viruses, ransomware attacks, SQL injections, etc.
The Testing & Innovations: Several admins like to execute constant tests & experiments with their database. For such cases, a backup file situated locally can be of more use and less hassle at any time for the entire team.
Compliance & Legal Cause: To present the data as evidence in a court of law, it’s quite tough for users to set up an SQL environment. In such cases, a handly local file can be more useful to execute any tasks without delays & technical errors.
Boosted Performance: Users must be aware of the fact that reducing network traffic and I/O load is quite important in the case of remote servers. And this is what exactly local drive backup does & improves the performance of the server.
Challenges to Backup SQL Database to Local Machine from MSSQL
It’s quite obvious that such an operation must have its own challenges that users get stuck with. Therefore, it’s better to discuss them here & be prepared for them in all possible ways. Along with further solutions, users will know what they need to do and what they don’t.
Frequency of the Backup: Most users struggle with keeping a balance between the frequency of the database backup & the storage space. They must analyze their business core vitals before coming to a conclusion.
Storage-Related Errors: Oftentimes, users’ local machines lack the space to accommodate constantly. This makes it difficult to manage the database in situations where SQL users have to work in a hectic environment full of data loss risk.
Bandwidth Constraint: It’s quite inefficient to backup the entire database from a remote server to the local machine drive or disk. The bulk data makes the process quite slow where network bandwidth plays a crucial role.
Process Automation: As per the recent survey, most of the errors occur during manual backups as humans often make mistakes. However, this is a challenge for users to automate the process.
Security & Integrity: Last but not least, security is another matter of concern during the data transfer. Users trying to execute SQL server backup to external drive need to protect data from any kind of external attack at any given point in time.
Method-1. Backup SQL Database to External Hard Drive Easily
There are several ways to backup SQL Server database to local machine step by step. However, the quickest and safest among all is SQL Database Migration Tool Wizard. This modern-day solution can complete the entire process in just 5 easy steps without much hassles. It can gather the Database files from the local system or the SQL server remotely using credentials & export them to another SQL Server, CSV file, or Script file.
Step-1. Start by launching the Software & proceed.
Step-2. Select Online mode & Add Credentials here.
Step-3. Preview the files & Proceed to save the locally.
Step-4. Set the Destination as CSV/Script file on the drive.
Step-5. Export to backup SQL database to local machine easily.
Method-2. SQL Backup Database to Local Drive with CMDs
To opt for the command line method, users must know that there are several drawbacks present in this method. Let’s quickly understand the command line solution followed by the drawbacks it contains.
Run the below command
BACKUP DATABASE Database_Name TO DISK = 'File_Path\File_Name.bak'
Here, users might encounter the SQL Server error 5, which is due to insufficient permissions. To make this command work, users need to provide the required permissions. Moreover, there are several other issues as well like lack of advanced features, easy to use GUI, etc.
Method-3. How to Backup MSSQL Database to Local Machine Drive Directly
The very third method that users need to go through is to do this directly. For this, they have to use SSMS. Follow the steps as stated to get th expected outcome in backing up remote SQL to local computer.
Step-1 Launch SSMS and Connect to SQL Server instance.
Step-2. Right Click on Database >> Tasks >> Copy Database.
Step-3. Enter Windows Authentication & then Click on the Next button.
Step-4. Enter the Target Server (Local Server on the Receiving End) to proceed.
Step-5. Select the Copy or Move option & then Hit the Execute button to move further.
Step-6. Now, Copy the Database Backup from the local server & save it where you want.
Method-4. SSMS Method to Backup SQL Database to Local Machine
The final method for SQL backup database to local drive is again by SSMS, However, this one is not for the remote servers. Here, we are going to use the backup feature of the SSMS as stated in the steps.
Step-1. Launch SSMS & then connect with the instance to begin.
Step-2. Right Click Database >> Tasks >> Backup option.
Step-3. Customize Backup Options like backup type, recovery model, etc.
Step-4. Click on the Add button & then browse the folder path to store the files
Step-5. Initiate the Backup process to end it & get the backup here with all data.
Conclusion
After going through all of the methods here, users can easily get the desired solution. However, the selection of the ideal method is a subjective decision. Users must choose the method based on their business requirement to backup SQL database to local machine. locally or on any external drive. As per experts, to avoid errors and data losses, the automated software solution is the safest option out there.
FAQs
Q-1. How do I copy a SQL database locally?
Ans: Well, to do this, all that users need to do is just copy the SQL database MDF file. This MDF file is indeed present in the SQL database files stored in the system. All that users need to do is find the version & name of their database to copy them.
Q-2. Is it possible to backup SQL database to external hard drive or disk?
Ans: Yes, users can easily backup the SQL server data to any other attached external drive to save system data using the tool in CSV or Script file.
Q-3. Will this tool work to backup remote SQL Server database to local drive?
Ans: Yes, users can easily use this tool remotely as well & get the backup without any kind of network or connectivity issues.