Delete backup from backup device?

I dump my databases to backup devices each night.

However would like to purge old backups - say older than a week - from the device.

Is it a case that I have to drop and re-create the devices every 7 days or can SQL do this for me?

I have seen the RETAINDAYS claus but it applies to tape backups only?

ThanksTake help from database maintenance plan to delete the backups older than x days.

If you go to "Database Maintenance Plans" and follow the wizard for a new maintenance plan, you can set up an automatic backup, that will create full backups that are datetime stamped (on the file name) in the directory of your choosing. You can configure it to delete backups that are older than X weeks as well.sql

Delete a backup

I orginally set up a backup to a file. I later was
instructed in setting up a backup device. I now have two
backups running for the same database. How do I delete
the original backup. It does not show on the "Backup"
list.You want to delete the original backup file, right?
If that's teh case, find the file in the file system (e.g.
using Windows Explorer) and delete it.
Linchi
>--Original Message--
>I orginally set up a backup to a file. I later was
>instructed in setting up a backup device. I now have two
>backups running for the same database. How do I delete
>the original backup. It does not show on the "Backup"
>list.
>.
>|||Or perhaps OP has two jobs running? If so, check EM, Management, Jobs.
--
Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP
Archive at: http://groups.google.com/groups?oi=djq&as_ugroup=microsoft.public.sqlserver
"Linchi Shea" <linchi_shea@.NOSPAMml.com> wrote in message
news:034d01c3c41c$fe5e7f00$a401280a@.phx.gbl...
> You want to delete the original backup file, right?
> If that's teh case, find the file in the file system (e.g.
> using Windows Explorer) and delete it.
> Linchi
> >--Original Message--
> >I orginally set up a backup to a file. I later was
> >instructed in setting up a backup device. I now have two
> >backups running for the same database. How do I delete
> >the original backup. It does not show on the "Backup"
> >list.
> >.
> >

delbkups not working for SQL 2000

Hello,

In our maintenance plan for SQL Server 2000, we are performing full backups which in turn has their retention setting to 2 days. Unfortunately, it appears that this option is not working. Has anybody else seen this? We are running on Windows 2000 Advanced Server.

-LIONSPARCHave you changes the path...have you looked in the job history, what about the error logs...

maybe try and disable it, and create a new one...

Never had a problem with it...|||We are thinking long the lines of...

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 278667
BUG: Sqlmaint Does Not Delete Expired Backup Files on Windows 95, 98 or ME Computers

But I will first try re-creating the maintenance plan.

-lionsparc|||WIN2k Advanced server?

I would highly doubt it...MS might as well fold there tent, hide the snake oil and close up the 3 card montee game now...

oooppps didn't mean that they don't make a decent product...|||We're LOL on that one. I will let you know how we make out. One thing that is interesting is that we "changed" the maintenance plan to remove files 2 days+ old. So the original didn't have it. However, we did check the job history and appears the -delbckups 2DAYS isn't showing anything in the log. We see "delete old text files" but that's it. Do you know how it should show in the history? Thanks!

-LIONSPARC|||I can't find any messaging indicating the delets...just the maint logs..nothing there...

As an alternative...you can create your own sprocs to take care of this...

And create any logging you want...very customizable...

good lucksql