Pre Snapshot Script

Optionally, specify the full path of a script to run before the scheduled snapshot occurs.

In a cluster environment, script files should be located on shared storage.

For security purposes, ensure that script files are not accessible to any user with fewer privileges than the user account under whose context the scheduler service is running. Otherwise, a user with fewer privileges might change or replace the file that is launched by the scheduler service.

Post Snapshot Script

Optionally, specify the full path of a script to run after the snapshot is complete.

Backup Type

Select a backup type.

You can specify that snapshots be created as either a Full backup or Copy backup type. Any snapshots taken between the time a full backup is taken and the time a log backup is taken can be used as a base to restore and replay the logs. If the replay of logs is not necessary, then either type of snapshot can be used to restore the database to the time of the snapshot set. A Copy backup does not affect the sequence of log replay and therefore is often used as an "out of band" copy for purposes such as testing or data mining.

Start Time

The time of the day to begin taking snapshots

End Time

The time of day to end taking snapshots. If a snapshot is in progress it is completed but a new one is not started after the end time.

Restart task every

The interval between snapshots, in minutes.

For example, if the interval is 360 minutes and you schedule a snapshot start time of 12 P.M. and an end time of 7 P.M., the snapshot occurs twice. If no interval is specified the snapshot occurs once.

Schedule takes effect on

The date on which the specified schedule takes effect. If you specify no other run day information on the other tabs, this date is used as the only run date.

If you specify run days on the other tabs, the schedule starts running on the earliest day specified. Therefore, if you want the current date included, specify it as an Include date on the Specific Dates tab.

Schedule recurs every

Enable this option to have the snapshot schedule continue to recur. Otherwise the schedule applies only for one day.

Specify the number of days before restarting the snapshot schedule.

For example, 1 day would mean the schedule takes effect daily, 2 days would mean every other day.

Start On

If you specify the Every option, specify the starting date.

Week Days

Select one or more days on one or more weeks of the month.

You can click a button at the top of the column to select the entire column or a button to the left of a row to select the entire row. For example, clicking 1st schedules the snapshots to occur on the first occurrence of all the week days for the month.

Days of Month

Select one or more days of the month. You can also specify the last day of the month.

Specific Dates

Select one or more specific dates to include in or to exclude from the schedule.

Excluding a date takes precedence over days scheduled on the other tabs. For example, if you schedule every Monday on the Days of Week tab, and you exclude Monday October 9 on the Specific Dates tab, the snapshots are not taken on October 9.