Back up and SQL server inside an azure VM and the VM itself

Daniel Nascimento 281 Reputation points
2021-03-31T10:33:54.147+00:00

Hello everyone,

I've been asked to configure a backup of an azure VM that runs SQL server inside it.

I made some research and found out that it's possible to backup the SQL Server inside the VM but i wanted to backup both (VM and the SQL Server that runs on it). To perform the backup of both, how should i configure the azure backup service? Should I configure 2 backups (one for the VM and other for the SQL) or is it possible to perform a backup of both with just one?

Thanks in advance,
Daniel Nascimento

Azure Backup
Azure Backup
An Azure backup service that provides built-in management at scale.
1,132 questions
Accepted answer
  1. Stanislav Zhelyazkov 21,336 Reputation points MVP
    2021-03-31T11:34:18.433+00:00

    Hi,
    Yes this is correct, you need to configure two backups - one for the VM and another for the SQL. You cannot perform one backup. Backup for VMs and backup for SQL have two different backup policies. For example you can backup the VM only one time in the day where for SQL you can backup hourly for the log besides doing full backup as well.

    Please "Accept the answer" if the information helped you. This will help us and others in the community as well.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

2 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. SadiqhAhmed-MSFT 38,081 Reputation points Microsoft Employee
    2021-03-31T13:03:51.503+00:00

    @Daniel Nascimento If the target Azure VMs are being backed up using the Azure VM Backup method, then all files/folders will be included in that backup; thus allowing you to retrieve a previous .BAK file.

    If, however, the Azure VMs have been configured to use the SQL Server Backup in Azure VMs method, this is only protecting the targeting databases, not the entire VM (or it’s file system).

    83324-image.png

    FAQ reference link - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/faq-backup-sql-server#can-i-use-azure-backup-for-iaas-vm-as-well-as-sql-server-on-the-same-machine

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If the response helped, do "Accept Answer" and up-vote it

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Toni Ortiz Sánchez 1 Reputation point
    2022-06-27T09:03:31.363+00:00

    Dear all. Regarding this topic, seems that the correct way to fully protect the server and the data bases, is "Azure virtual machine backup" and "SQL in Azure VM backup", both at the same time but, with this approach, are we duplicating backup storage? Seems that yes, and normally, the data bases are the big amount on this kind of servers.
    Is a good idea to backup the "system disks" of the server with "Azure disks backup" and then the data bases with "SQL in Azure VM backup"? i don´t know how effective is to try to restore the server with a "Azure disks backup".

    Thanks in advance.

    0 comments