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Manually back up Azure DevOps Server

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Azure DevOps Server 2022 | Azure DevOps Server 2020 | Azure DevOps Server 2019 | TFS 2018

You can manually back up data for Azure DevOps Server by using the tools that SQL Server provides. However, you may need to configure backups manually if your deployment has security restrictions that prevent using those tools.

To manually back up Azure DevOps, back up all databases that the deployment uses, and also synchronize the backups to the same point in time. You can manage this synchronization most effectively if you use marked transactions. If you routinely mark related transactions in every database that Azure DevOps uses, you establish a series of common recovery points in those databases. If you regularly back up those databases, you reduce the risk of losing productivity or data because of equipment failure or other unexpected events.

Warning

You should not manually modify any of the Azure DevOps Server databases unless you're instructed to do so by Microsoft Support or you're following the procedures described in this document. Any other modifications can invalidate your service agreement.

The procedures in this article explain how to create maintenance plans that perform either a full or an incremental backup of the databases and how to create tables and stored procedures for marked transactions. For maximum data protection, you should schedule full backups to run daily or weekly and incremental backups to run hourly. You can also back up the transaction logs. For more information, see Back up a transaction log (SQL Server).

Note

Many procedures in this article specify the use of SQL Server Management Studio. If you installed SQL Server Express Edition, you must use SQL Server Management Studio Express. For more information, see Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).

Prerequisites

You must be a member of all the following groups:

  • The Administrators security group on the server that is running the administration console for Azure DevOps Server.
  • The SQL Server System Administrator security group. Alternatively, your SQL Server Perform Back Up and Create Maintenance Plan permissions must be set to Allow on each instance of SQL Server that hosts the databases that you want to back up. 

Backup the Reporting Services encryption key

If your deployment uses SQL Server Reporting Services, you must back up not only the databases but also the encryption key.

For a single-server deployment of Azure DevOps Server, you can back up the encryption key for SQL Server Reporting Services in either of two ways. You can use either the Reporting Services Configuration tool, or you can use the RSKEYMGMT command-line tool provided by SQL Server. For a multiple-server or clustered deployment, you must use RSKEYMGMT. For more information about RSKEYMGMT, see RSKEYMGMT utility.

For more information about how to back up the encryption key, see Administration (Reporting Services). For more information about how to restore the encryption key, see Restore encryption key (Reporting Services configuration).

Prerequisites

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Local Administrator group, which has the role of a Content Manager in Reporting Services, or your Manage report server security permission must be set to Allow.

Back up the encryption key

To back up the encryption key by using the Reporting Services Configuration tool:

  1. On the server that is running Reporting Services, select Start, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server, point to Configuration Tools, and then select Reporting Services Configuration Manager.

    The Report Server Installation Instance Selection dialog box opens.

  2. Enter the name of the data-tier server and the database instance, and then select Connect.

  3. In the navigation bar on the left side, select Encryption Keys, and then select Backup.

    The Encryption Key Information dialog box opens.

  4. In File Location, specify the location where you want to store a copy of this key.

    You should consider storing this key on a separate computer from the one that is running Reporting Services.

  5. In Password, enter a password for the file.

  6. In Confirm Password, re-enter the password for the file.

  7. Select OK.

Identify databases

Before you begin, identify all the databases you will need to back up to fully restore your deployment. This includes databases for SQL Server Reporting Services. These might be on the same server, or you might have databases distributed across multiple servers. For a complete table and description of Azure DevOps Server databases, including the default names for the databases, see Understand Azure DevOps Server databases, deployment topologies, and backup.

Identify databases

  1. Open SQL Server Management Studio, and connect to the database engine.

  2. In SQL Server Management Studio, in Object Explorer, expand the name of the server and then expand Databases.

  3. Review the list of databases and identify those used by your deployment.

    For example, Fabrikam, Inc.'s Azure DevOps Server deployment is a single-server configuration, and it uses the following databases:

    • the configuration database (Tfs_Configuration)
    • the collection database (Tfs_DefaultCollection)
    • the database for the data warehouse (Tfs_Warehouse)
    • the reporting databases (ReportServer and ReportServerTempDB)

Create tables in databases

To make sure that all databases are restored to the same point, you can create a table in each database to mark transactions. Use the Query function in SQL Server Management Studio to create an appropriate table in each database.

  1. Open SQL Server Management Studio, and connect to the database engine.

  2. In SQL Server Management Studio, highlight the name of the server, open the submenu, and then select New Query.

    The Database Engine Query Editor window opens.

  3. On the Query menu, select SQLCMD Mode.

    The Query Editor executes sqlcmd statements in the context of the Query Editor. If the Query menu does not appear, select anywhere in the new query in the Database Engine Query Editor window.

  4. On the SQL Editor toolbar, open the Available Databases list, and then select TFS_Configuration.

    Note

    TFS_Configuration is the default name of the configuration database. This name is customizable and might vary.

  5. In the query window, enter the following script to create a table in the configuration database:

        Use Tfs_Configuration
Create Table Tbl_TransactionLogMark
(
logmark int
)
GO
Insert into Tbl_TransactionLogMark (logmark) Values (1)
GO

  6. Press F5 to run the script.

    If the script is correct, the message "(1 row(s) affected.)" appears in the Query Editor.

  7. (Optional) Save the script.

  8. Repeat steps 4−7 for every database in your deployment of Azure DevOps Server. In the example Fabrikam, Inc. deployment, you would repeat this process for all of the following databases:

    • Tfs_Warehouse
    • Tfs_DefaultCollection
    • ReportServer
    • ReportServerTempDB

Create a stored procedure for marking tables

After the tables have been created in each database that you want to back up, you must create a procedure for marking the tables.

  1. In SQL Server Management Studio, open a query window, and make sure that SQLCMD Mode is turned on.

  2. On the SQL Editor toolbar, open the Available Databases list, and then select TFS_Configuration.

  3. In the query window, enter the following script to create a stored procedure to mark transactions in the configuration database:

        Create PROCEDURE sp_SetTransactionLogMark
@name nvarchar (128)
AS
BEGIN TRANSACTION @name WITH MARK
UPDATE Tfs_Configuration.dbo.Tbl_TransactionLogMark SET logmark = 1
COMMIT TRANSACTION
GO

  4. Press F5 to run the procedure.

    If the procedure is correct, the message "Command(s) completed successfully." appears in the Query Editor.

  5. (Optional) Save the procedure.

  6. Repeat steps 2−5 for every Azure DevOps Server database.  In the Fabrikam, Inc. deployment, you would repeat this process for all of the following databases:

    • Tfs_Warehouse
    • Tfs_DefaultCollection
    • ReportServer
    • ReportServerTempDB

    Tip

    Before you create the procedure, select the name of the associated database from the Available Databases list in Object Explorer. Otherwise, when you run the script you'll see an error that the stored procedure already exists.

Create a stored procedure for marking all tables at once

To make sure that all databases are marked, you can create a procedure that will in turn run all the procedures that you just created for marking the tables. Unlike the previous procedures, this procedure runs only in the configuration database.

  1. In SQL Server Management Studio, open a query window, and make sure that SQLCMD Mode is turned on.

  2. On the SQL Editor toolbar, open the Available Databases list, and then select TFS_Configuration.

  3. In the query window, create a stored procedure that executes the stored procedures that you created in each database that Azure DevOps Server uses. Replace ServerName with the name of the server that is running SQL Server, and replace Tfs_CollectionName with the name of the database for each project collection.

    In the example deployment, the name of the server is FABRIKAMPRIME, and there is only one project collection in the deployment, the default one created when she installed Azure DevOps Server (DefaultCollection). With that in mind, you would create the following script:

        CREATE PROCEDURE sp_SetTransactionLogMarkAll
@name nvarchar (128)
AS
BEGIN TRANSACTION
EXEC [FABRIKAMPRIME].Tfs_Configuration.dbo.sp_SetTransactionLogMark @name
EXEC [FABRIKAMPRIME].ReportServer.dbo.sp_SetTransactionLogMark @name
EXEC [FABRIKAMPRIME].ReportServerTempDB.dbo.sp_SetTransactionLogMark @name
EXEC [FABRIKAMPRIME].Tfs_DefaultCollection.dbo.sp_SetTransactionLogMark @name
EXEC [FABRIKAMPRIME].Tfs_Warehouse.dbo.sp_SetTransactionLogMark @name
COMMIT TRANSACTION
GO

  4. Press F5 to run the procedure.

    Note

    If you have not restarted SQL Server Management Studio since you created the stored procedures for marking transactions, one or more red wavy lines might underscore the name of the server and the names of the databases. However, the procedure should still run.

    If the procedure is correct, the message "Command(s) completed successfully." appears in the Query Editor.

  5. (Optional) Save the procedure.

Create a stored procedure to automatically mark tables

After you have a procedure that will run all stored procedures for table marking, you can create a procedure that will mark all tables with the same transaction marker. You'll use this marker to restore all databases to the same point.

  1. In SQL Server Management Studio, open a query window, and make sure that SQLCMD Mode is turned on.

  2. On the SQL Editor toolbar, open the Available Databases list, and then select TFS_Configuration.

  3. In the query window, enter the following script to mark the tables with 'TFSMark':

    EXEC sp_SetTransactionLogMarkAll 'TFSMark'
GO

    Note

    TFSMark is an example of a mark. You can use any sequence of supported letters and numbers in your mark. If you have more than one marked table in the databases, record which mark you will use to restore the databases. For more information, see Using marked transactions.

  4. Press F5 to run the procedure.

    If the procedure is correct, the message "(1 row(s) affected)" appears in the Query Editor. The WITH MARK option applies only to the first "BEGIN TRAN WITH MARK" statement for each table that has been marked.

  5. Save the procedure.

Create a scheduled job to run the table-marking procedure

Now that you have created and stored all these procedures, schedule the table-marking procedure to run just before the scheduled backups of the databases. You should schedule this job to run about one minute before the maintenance plan for the databases runs.

  1. In Object Explorer, expand SQL Server Agent, open the Jobs menu, and then select New Job.

    The New Job window opens.

  2. In Name, specify a name for the job. For example, you might enter MarkTableJob for your job name.

  3. (Optional) In Description, specify a description of the job.

  4. In Select a page, select Steps and then select New.

    The New Job Step window opens.

  5. In Step Name, specify a name for the step.

  6. In Database, select the name of the configuration database. For example, if your deployment uses the default name for that database, TFS_Configuration, select that database from the drop-down list.

  7. Select Open, browse to the procedure that you created for marking the tables, select Open two times, and then select OK.

    Note

    The procedure that you created for marking the tables runs the following step:

    EXEC sp_SetTransactionLogMarkAll 'TFSMark'

  8. In Select a page, select Schedules, and then select New.

    The New Job Schedule window opens.

  9. In Name, specify a name for the schedule.

  10. In Frequency, change the frequency to match the plan that you will create for backing up the databases. For example, you might run incremental backups daily at 2 AM, and full backups on Sunday at 4 AM. For marking the databases for the incremental backups, you would change the value of Occurs to Daily. When you create another job to mark the databases for the weekly full backup, keep the value of Occurs at Daily, and select the Sunday check box.

  11. In Daily Frequency, change the occurrence so that the job is scheduled to run one minute before the backup for the databases, and then select OK. In the example deployment, in the job for the incremental backups, you'd specify 1:59 AM. In the job for the full backup, you'd specify 3:59 AM.

  12. In New Job, select OK to finish creating the scheduled job.

Create a maintenance plan for full backups

After you create a scheduled job for marking the databases, you can use the Maintenance Plan Wizard to schedule full backups of all of the databases that your deployment of Azure DevOps Server uses.

Important

If your deployment is using the Enterprise or Datacenter editions of SQL Server, but you may need to restore databases to a server running Standard edition, you must use a backup set that was made with SQL Server compression disabled. Unless you disable data compression, you will not be able to restore Enterprise or Datacenter edition databases to a server running Standard edition. You should turn off compression before creating your maintenance plans. To turn off compression, follow the steps in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article.

  1. In SQL Server Management Studio, expand the Management node, open the Maintenance Plans sub-menu, and then select Maintenance Plan Wizard.

  2. On the welcome page for the SQL Server Maintenance Plan Wizard, select Next.

    The Select Plan Properties page appears.

  3. In the Name box, specify a name for the maintenance plan.

    For example, you might create a plan for full backups named TfsFullDataBackup.

  4. Select Single schedule for the entire plan or no schedule, and then select Change.

  5. Under Frequency and Daily Frequency, specify options for your plan. For example, you might specify a weekly backup to occur on Sunday in Frequency, and specify 4 AM. in Daily Frequency.

    Under Duration, leave the default value, No end date. Select OK, and then select Next.

  6. On the Select Maintenance Tasks page, select the Backup Database (Full), Execute SQL Server Agent Job, and Back up Database (Transaction Log) check boxes, and then select Next.

  7. On the Select Maintenance Task Order page, change the order so that the full backup runs first, then the Agent job, and then the transaction log backup, and then select Next.

    For more information about this dialog box, press F1, and also see Maintenance Plan Wizard.

  8. On the Define Back Up Database (Full) Task page, select the down arrow, select All Databases, and then select OK.

  9. Specify the backup options for saving the files to disk or tape, as appropriate for your deployment and resources, and then select Next.

  10. On the Define Execute SQL Server Agent Job Task page, select the check box for the scheduled job that you created for table marking, and then select Next.

  11. On the Define Back Up Database (Transaction Log) Task page, select the down arrow, select All Databases, and then select OK.

  12. Specify the backup options for saving the files to disk or tape as appropriate for your deployment and resources, and then select Next.

  13. On the Select Report Options page, specify report distribution options, and then select Next two times.

  14. On the Complete the Wizard page, select Finish.

    SQL Server creates the maintenance plan and backs up the databases that you specified based on the frequency that you specified.

Create a maintenance plan for differential backups

Use the Maintenance Plan Wizard to schedule differential backups for all databases that your deployment of Azure DevOps Server uses.

Important

SQL Server Express does not include the Maintenance Plan Wizard. You must manually script the schedule for your differential backups. For more information, see Create a differential database backup (Transact-SQL).

  1. Log on to the server that is running the instance of SQL Server that contains the databases that you want to back up.

  2. Open SQL Server Management Studio.

    1. In the Server type list, select Database Engine.

    2. In the Server name and Authentication lists, select the appropriate server and authentication scheme.

    3. If your instance of SQL Server requires it, in User name and Password, specify the credentials of an appropriate account.

    4. Select Connect.

  3. In SQL Server Management Studio, expand the Management node, open the sub-menu, select Maintenance Plans, and then select Maintenance Plan Wizard.

  4. On the welcome page for the SQL Server Maintenance Plan Wizard, select Next.

  5. On the Select Plan Properties page, in the Name box, specify a name for the maintenance plan.

    For example, you could name a plan for differential backups TfsDifferentialBackup.

  6. Select Single schedule for the entire plan or no schedule, and then select Change.

  7. Under Frequency and Daily Frequency, specify options for your backup plan.

    Under Duration, leave the default value, No end date. Select OK, and then select Next.

  8. On the Select Maintenance Tasks page, select the Back up Database (Differential) check box, and then select Next.

  9. On the Define Back Up Database (Differential) Task page, select the down arrow, select All Databases, and then select OK.

  10. Specify the backup options for saving the files to disk or tape as appropriate for your deployment and resources, and then select Next.

  11. On the Select Report Options page, specify report distribution options, and then select Next two times.

  12. On the Complete the Wizard page, select Finish.

    SQL Server creates the maintenance plan and backs up the databases that you specified based on the frequency that you specified.

Create a maintenance plan for transaction logs

You can use the Maintenance Plan Wizard to schedule transaction log backups for all databases that your deployment of Azure DevOps Server uses.

Important

SQL Server Express does not include the Maintenance Plan Wizard. You must manually script the schedule for transaction-log backups. For more information, see Create a Transaction Log Backup (Transact-SQL).

  1. Log on to the server that is running the instance of SQL Server that contains the databases to back up.

  2. Open SQL Server Management Studio.

  3. In the Server type list, select Database Engine.

    1. In the Server name and Authentication lists, select the appropriate server and authentication scheme.

    2. If your instance of SQL Server requires it, in User name and Password, specify the credentials of an appropriate account.

    3. Select Connect.

  4. In SQL Server Management Studio, expand the Management node, open the submenu, select Maintenance Plans, and then select Maintenance Plan Wizard.

  5. On the welcome page for the SQL Server Maintenance Plan Wizard, select Next.

    The Select Plan Properties page appears.

  6. In the Name box, specify a name for the maintenance plan.

    For example, you could name a plan to back up transaction logs TfsTransactionLogBackup.

  7. Select Single schedule for the entire plan or no schedule, and then select Change.

  8. Under Frequency and Daily Frequency, specify options for your plan.

    Under Duration, leave the default value, No end date.

  9. Select OK, and then select Next.

  10. On the Select Maintenance Tasks page, select the Execute SQL Server Agent Job and Back up Database (Transaction Log) check boxes, and then select Next.

  11. On the Select Maintenance Task Order page, change the order so that the Agent job runs before the transaction-log backup, and then select Next.

    For more information about this dialog box, press F1, and also see Maintenance Plan Wizard.

  12. On the Define Execute SQL Server Agent Job Task page, select the check box for the scheduled job that you created for table marking, and then select Next.

  13. On the Define Back Up Database (Transaction Log) Task page, select the down arrow, select All Databases, and then select OK.

  14. Specify the backup options for saving the files to disk or tape as appropriate for your deployment and resources, and then select Next.

  15. On the Select Report Options page, specify report distribution options, and then select Next two times.

  16. On the Complete the Wizard page, select Finish.

    SQL Server creates the maintenance plan and backs up the transaction logs for the specified databases based on the selected frequency.

Back up the encryption key for Reporting Services

You must back up the encryption key for Reporting Services as part of backing up your system. Without this encryption key, you will not be able to restore the reporting data. For a single-server deployment of Azure DevOps Server, you can back up the encryption key for SQL Server Reporting Services by using the Reporting Services Configuration tool. You could also choose to use the RSKEYMGMT command-line tool, but the configuration tool is simpler. For more information, see RSKEYMGMT utility.

  1. On the server that is running Reporting Services, open Reporting Services Configuration Manager.

    The Report Server Installation Instance Selection dialog box opens.

  2. Specify the name of the data-tier server and the database instance, and then select Connect.

  3. In the navigation bar on the left side, select Encryption Keys, and then select Backup.

    The Encryption Key Information dialog box opens.

  4. In File Location, specify the location where you want to store a copy of this key.

    You should consider storing this key on a separate computer from the one that is running Reporting Services.

  5. In Password, specify a password for the file.

  6. In Confirm Password, specify the password for the file again, and then select OK.