How to: Create a Differential Database Backup (Transact-SQL)
This topic explains how to create a differential database backup.
Important
You cannot create a differential database backup unless the database has been backed up first.
To create a differential database backup
Execute the BACKUP DATABASE statement to create the differential database backup, specifying:
- The name of the database to back up.
- The backup device where the full database backup is written.
- The DIFFERENTIAL clause, to specify that only the parts of the database that have changed after the last full database backup was created are backed up.
Optionally, specify:
The INIT clause to overwrite the backup media, and write the backup as the first file on the backup media. If no existing media header exists, one is automatically written.
The SKIP and INIT clauses to overwrite the backup media even if there are either backups on the backup media that have not yet expired, or the media name does not match the name on the backup media.
The FORMAT clause when you are using media for the first time to initialize the backup media and rewrite any existing media header.
The INIT clause is not required if the FORMAT clause is specified.Important
Use extreme caution when you are using the FORMAT or INIT clauses of the BACKUP statement as this destroys any backups previously stored on the backup media.
Example
This example creates a full and a differential database backup for the MyAdvWorks database.
-- Create a full database backup first.
BACKUP DATABASE MyAdvWorks
TO MyAdvWorks_1
WITH INIT
GO
-- Time elapses.
-- Create a differential database backup, appending the backup
-- to the backup device containing the full database backup.
BACKUP DATABASE MyAdvWorks
TO MyAdvWorks_1
WITH DIFFERENTIAL
GO
See Also
Tasks
How to: Restore a Differential Database Backup (Transact-SQL)
Concepts
Other Resources
BACKUP (Transact-SQL)
SQL Server Management Studio Tutorial