Add a SQL Server database host and discover the database

Before you can protect SQL Server databases, complete the following:

  • Review your network configuration, including firewall ports. Pay closeattention to our notes on how toSQL database discovery considerations.

  • Install the Backup and DR Service agent on the database hosts.

  • Make sure the database permissions are set correctly.

SQL database discovery considerations

  • backup/recovery appliances support Microsoft SQL Server on Microsoft Windowsserver.

  • Discovery relies on SQL VSS writer. For the discovery to work correctly, SQLVSS writer must be installed and running on the host.

  • Appliances can manage Microsoft SQL Servers, SQL instances,consistency groups of SQL Server databases, and SQL availability groups.

  • For a SQL failover appliance, the discovery needs to be run oneither the active node—or node IP—or appliance node—orappliance IP. Otherwise, clustered databases aren't discovered.

Add the host

Add the host to the management console. If the host has already been added, thenedit the host and make sure to set all the configurations correctly.

Note: If you have added the Windows server to Backup and DR Service as aCompute Engine instance or as a VMware VM, then a host for this VM alreadyexists and you don't need to add it again using the following procedure.Instead, find and edit that host.

  1. ClickManage>Hosts, then click+ Add Host.

  2. On theAdd Host page, complete the following:

    • Name: Provide the database server name.

    • IP Address: Provide the database server IP and click theplus sign (+).

    • Appliances: Select the checkbox for the appliance.

    • Host Type: Make sure this isGeneric.

  3. ClickAdd at bottom right to add the host. The host is added.

  4. Right-click the host and selectEdit.

  5. Leave theStaging Disk Format asBlock.

  6. Enter the username and password that you set up inApplication Discovery Credentials.

  7. SelectSave.

Discover SQL Server instances and databases

Use the following instructions to discover SQL Server instances and databases:

  1. ClickApp Manager>Applications, selectAdd Application.

  2. SelectSQL Server on theAdd Application page, then select theSQL Server database host. If you have many hosts, you can use thesearch feature or use the filter to see only hosts that are managed bya specific backup/recovery appliance.

    Note: When adding SQL instances that participate in Microsoft ServerFailover Clusters, either:
    Run the wizard once for each node inthe cluster, or else
    Add all applications and multi-select allnodes at once. With this method, apply protection fromtheApplications Listing view by selectingManage Backup Planfor the SQL instance.

  3. Select the host and clickNext.This runs the discovery on the SQL Server host and discovers all SQL Serverinstances and databases running on it.

    Note: Discovery on any one node adds other nodes of cluster as well.
    To discover system DBs, run discovery on each node. System DBs can beprotected as part of a SQL instance.
    Availability Group databases can be protected as part of a SQL AGapplication.
    You can take a backup image of a secondary by specifying the AG backuppreference from application advanced settings.
    Log truncation on the primary is managed by SQL Server, even when backingup db or logs on a secondary.

Find the discovered instances and databases in the App Manager

To find the newly-discovered database, go to theApp Manager Applicationslist. All applications known to the management console of all types are listed.Use theType application filter to show only SQL Serverdatabase instances. The new SQL Server instances and databases appear in thelist as unmanaged—the shield icon.

The Backup and DR Microsoft SQL Server DBA guide

This page is one in a series of pages specific to protecting and recoveringMicrosoft SQL Server databases with Backup and DR.You can find additional information at:

What's Next

Configure backup plans for Microsoft SQL Server instances and databases

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Last updated 2026-02-19 UTC.