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Compressed SQL Server Backup                      

What is HyperBac for SQL Server and How Does it Work?

HyperBac is an enterprise backup, recovery, import and export solution, for your SQL Server databases developed by original developers of LiteSpeed. Working with your existing backup techniques (TSQL, SQL Enterprise Manager, Management Studio, BCP or DTS), HyperBac uses high performance lossless compression to reduce the size of your backup data sets by up to 95% and the time taken to perform your backups by up to 75%.

The HyperBac benefit (and hence its capacity to scale to enterprise use) is that it provides the appropriate balance between maximizing compression, ensuring transaction throughput and minimizing operation times.

In practical terms, this means that HyperBac ensures a high transaction throughput during operation, no CPU bottlenecks and a shorter operation window.

HyperBac works with the resultant backup information stream and thus it seamlessly integrates with SQL Server's native backup procedures. To that extent, the database administrator does not need to change their existing scripts or deal with another application layer to use HyperBac.

As importantly, HyperBac does not directly read or write data from or to your SQL Server database, it uses all native APIs therefore you can be assured of data integrity at all times.

In addition archive files created by HyperBac can be converted to native backup files (physical or logical) at any time on any system, offering peace of mind for customers as well as a viable alternative recovery path should the restore or import occur on a system which does not have HyperBac installed. Moreover, compressed backups can be created in industry standard ZIP compatible output format (with speeds equivalent to or better than most products on the market), offering true third party vendor independence. Unique to HyperBac

Last but certainly not least, HyperBac for SQL Server has integrated AES (128/192/256 bit) encryption to protect your backup sets.

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What technical advantages will HyperBac for SQL Server deliver?

HyperBac delivers a number of technical advantages. Solution performance means that there is less contention for resources on the system(s) during backup operations. The advantage here is that you can avoid or avert the need to re-schedule or partition your backup operations to cater for end user requirements.

As your data storage grows, so to will your backup times. HyperBac gives you immediate relief from these growing pains. As well as prolonging the value of your existing infrastructure, HyperBac also allows you to maintain existing procedures and scripts for as long as possible. The advantage there is reduced change management risk and need for support.

Consider the following simple example. Your backup window can no longer accommodate your nightly incremental backups. The issue is serious as other batch transactions such as general ledger consolidations and invoice runs cannot be re-scheduled or changed. One unpalatable response to this situation is to split the backups and target different database objects for different nights. This means risk and greater loss of data in the event of disaster.

A far more appropriate option in this circumstance is to deploy HyperBac to reduce both your backup times to cater for the existing window. The additional benefit is that your backup will be significantly compressed, freeing physical storage resources as well.

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Does HyperBac for SQL Server require me to change my existing backup scripts or methods?

No. Unlike every other third party SQL Server backup product on the market.

With HyperBac for SQL Server there are no extended stored procedures to implement, nor does HyperBac employ command substitution or maintenance plan conversion. It uses your actual scripts, jobs and procedures.

HyperBac's unique, ground breaking architecture is simply designed to work with your existing TSQL BACKUP scripts, BCP or DTS jobs or SQL Server Database Maintenance Plans. The only thing required is to configure HyperBac for your backup or export output file.

Integration Example 1 - Working with specific file extensions

You perform a backup to a file called mybackup.bak. Just change the filename to mybackup.hbc, mybackup.hbe or mybackup.zip (built in recognized HyperBac backup file extensions).

That is all that is required. Change the file extension and HyperBac will recognize it as a HyperBac backup operation. In the above scenario we used the default extensions hbc and zip (for compression only) or hbe (for compression and encryption).

In fact, you can configure HyperBac to nominate any file extension you wish.

Integration Example 2 - Working with specific directories or paths

Let's take the above example and say that you write your backups to the following path and file C:\mydatabase\backup\mybackup.bak

If you don't want to change your scripts at all, then you can configure HyperBac to recognize the path c:\mydatabase\backup. That means that all files written to that path (irrespective of their name or extension) will either be compressed and/or encrypted, depending upon what you choose.

That's it, no script or database maintenance plan conversion, command substitution or extended stored procedures to deploy.

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Will HyperBac for SQL Server cause me to change my disaster recovery policies or procedures?

No.

But it will give you options that you previously didn't have. By reducing your backup size you can keep more backups online. That gives your flexibility and options during recovery. As importantly, it saves you time during recovery, because you won't have to rely on fetching tapes from off site locations.

You'll reduce risk. Why? Because you'll have more backup sets online and on your site, which can be validated at greater frequency. This is not always possible or feasible with off site archives. As importantly you can almost eliminate the inherent risk associated with failed tape media.

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Will HyperBac impact the integrity of my database backups?

Not at all.

HyperBac works with the existing native interfaces to read and write data to and from your database. You are still running the native SQL Server commands (TSQL BACKUP or bcp.exe) at all times.

Therefore HyperBac does not interfere with normal database operation in any way. As importantly, HyperBac will operate independently of the database release you have deployed.

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Where does HyperBac for SQL Server install?

HyperBac is a server side, service-based solution, deployed on the same machine SQL Server is installed on. Importantly, nothing is installed within SQL Server and therefore there are no components to manage or upgrade when you upgrade versions of SQL Server or install additional instances of SQL Server. Unique to HyperBac

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We use network storage to hold our backups, am we still able to use HyperBac?

Absolutely.

HyperBac for SQL Server is a disk based backup solution and it will seamlessly work with local or remote DASD, SAN or NAS devices.

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Can I restore or import HyperBac created archives without HyperBac?

Yes, and its absolutely free.

As well as being able to restore HyperBac backups seamlessly using native SQL Server tools (RESTORE and bcp) on any server with HyperBac installed. You have three additional options.

Firstly, HyperBac provides a "free restore" policy for SQL Server, whereby machines which only do restores (Development, Test or DR systems) are fully licensed for HyperBac at no cost.

Secondly, HyperBac backups can be written directly to a ZIP compatible format, with performance equivalent to or better than all other solutions. This gives you complete third party vendor independence allowing you to migrate, extract and restore to any server of your choosing at any point in time on any system.

Lastly, HyperBac is shipped with royalty free command line and graphical extraction utilities which can be used to extract compressed or encrypted archives created with HyperBac at any time.

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How does HyperBac for SQL Server improve transaction throughput during backup operations?

HyperBac for SQL Server delivers results in an improvement in transaction throughput by up to 10 times during the backup process in contrast to comparable conventional backup operations. This is due to the substantial reduction in write disk I/O during the HyperBac backup process.

As importantly, HyperBac compression and encryption operations are performed on-the-fly (including backing up to a ZIP compatible archive) which means that the solution does not require any working space to deliver upon its capabilities. This means that there is no need to maintain (or waste) an amount of disk space to perform the compression.

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Can I backup specific objects such as individual tables using BCP or DTS?

Yes. HyperBac for SQL Server allows you to perform on-the-fly compressed and/or encrypted logical backup operations (such as bcp or DTS) as well as physical backup operations. Unique to HyperBac

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Does HyperBac for SQL Server support backups direct to tape?

Not at present. HyperBac for SQL Server is a high performance disk based backup product designed to perform compressed backups to local or remote DASD, NAS or SAN devices, which can then be ported to tape for offline storage or archival purposes.

Disk based backups provide database administrators with fast, reliable recovery online points. HyperBac's compression is superior to the hardware compression which is common on many tape devices, so a disk to tape backup strategy will generally yield a 50% reduction in tape storage costs as well as a 75-90% reduction in DASD, NAS or SAN requirements.

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Can I still perform native SQL Server backups?

Yes. Using HyperBac does not limit or prohibit you from performing any other backup operations, the media to which you write it or the vehicle you use to perform the operation.

The question is why? The performance gains are a significant incentive to take advantage of HyperBac's capabilities. Above and beyond compression and reduced backup windows, HyperBac writes its output to a ZIP compatible format, which makes backups infinitely portable and gives you vendor independence. This is a first for SQL Server backup technology.

Another first for the SQL Server market, HyperBac can deliver compression for logical export or bulk copy operations. This makes HyperBac a unique backup solution.

Last, but certainly not least, all of this functionality is delivered with integrated AES Encryption to help you protect your backups against both server and network vulnerabilities. Not to mention, the compliance expectations that are growing by the day.

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What operating system and SQL Server versions are supported?

HyperBac is supported for SQL Server 2000 and above, including full support for SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008. Supported operating systems are Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista (32 and 64-bit).

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How is HyperBac for SQL Server licensed?

HyperBac is licensed per physical server (irrespective of the number of instances, processors or database size). HyperBac is priced and licensed to give you exceptional value for money and pay back it's investment in months.

In most cases customers with existing compressed backup solutions in place can switch to HyperBac for less than their existing maintenance renewal payments and furthermore reduce their yearly outgoings by as much as 5 times.

Let's quickly explain what HyperBac does NOT impose upon you.

  • No licensing costs to perform restores, with the "free restore" policy for SQL Server.
  • No additional charges are required for the number of SQL Server instances, databases or number of processors.
  • No additional charges are required in accordance with the size of your backup. Whether its 1 GB or 20 TB then the investment is the same.


  • HyperBac is designed to save you money and time. The licensing model is also designed to reflect this principal.

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    I've heard of other SQL Server compressed backup software products. What makes HyperBac special?

    There are many unique features that make HyperBac for SQL Server stand out in the crowd. Consider the following:

    1. Integrated SQL Server backup compression and encryption while working with the native SQL Server commands (no extended stored procedures, maintenance plan conversions or command substitutions)

    2. No change to existing procedures or processes and no additional training to deploy the solution. That means no risk or cost of change and a rapid deployment window so you can redeem the benefits sooner.

    3. Output files that can be read and extracted by Zip compatible utility (such as shell integrated compressed folders in Windows, WinZip or WinRar) for portability, vendor independence and peace of mind

    4. Streaming compression and AES Encryption capabilities for both physical and logical backup (bcp, bulk copy, dts) operations.

    5. Unique Granular Backup Object Recovery functionality using SELECT statements to TSQL Linked Servers or via SSIS or DTS

    All of this is coupled with performance equal to or better than all products on the market and a price point and licensing scheme that ensures that your payback is achieved within months.

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    What does HyperBac for SQL Server mean to my business and customers?

    HyperBac contributes to a better operational environment for your business. For you, this means lowering the cost of managing your database environment. That could include reduced tape usage; smaller infrastructure requirements, lower support costs and/or deferred infrastructure spend.

    Further to this, HyperBac gives you greater surety. By reducing you backup size and window, you can eliminate contention with processes that compete for scarce system resources. Such tasks may include nightly financial batch operations or end user access for transaction processing. With HyperBac you will not have to shuffle resources to meet your backup objectives. More online recovery points also give you surety with regard to the restore process and for disaster recovery planning.

    With regard to your customers (whether they are internal or external) HyperBac helps ensure that your existing infrastructure will continue to meet stated service levels for performance and access. That ultimately means greater customer satisfaction and retention.

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    What commercial returns should I expect from HyperBac?

    From a commercial viewpoint, HyperBac is designed to provide you with significant savings on your backup operations. These savings may include, but aren't limited to; lower tape usage, reduced support or personnel costs or even deferred investment in infrastructure spend to accommodate data growth.

    HyperBac is priced such that it delivers a payback within months just on the savings you redeem on tape usage alone.

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