Implementing a well-planned backup and restore strategy protects databases against data loss. Develop a strategy and regularly test your backup and recovery procedures to make sure you are prepared to effectively respond to a disaster.

For information about backing up and restoring SQL Server databases, see the SQL Server documentation. For considerations in planning disaster recovery, see Planning disaster recovery.

The importance of backups

A backup is a copy of a database that is used to restore and recover data after a system failure. With proper backups, you can recover from many failures, including:

  • Media failure

  • User errors (such as dropping a table by mistake)

  • Hardware failures (such as a damaged disk drive or permanent loss of a server)

  • Natural disasters

Database backups are also useful for routine purposes, such as copying a database from one server to another, setting up database mirroring, or archiving for governmental purposes. Refer to your database documentation for details about how to choose and implement a backup and restore strategy.

Databases to backup

Include all the databases in your Microsoft Dynamics AX system in your backup and restore strategy. These databases include:

  • The Microsoft Dynamics AX database (SQL Server or Oracle).

  • The Windows SharePoint Services or Microsoft Office SharePoint Server database for Enterprise Portal.

  • The SQL Server Reporting Services database for ad hoc reporting.

  • The SQL Server Analysis Services database for OLAP reporting.

  • The BizTalk Server database (if BizTalk Server is deployed).

  • Databases used by any applications that integrate with Microsoft Dynamics AX.

Important Important

You also should have backup and recovery procedures for the Microsoft Dynamics AX application.