Source: https://sprinto-test.docs-staging.pageloop.ai/monitors/cloud-and-infrastructure-monitoring/aws/enabling-rds-backup

# Enabling RDS Backup

#### **How to backup and restore Amazon RDS SQL Server**Here are ways to perform a backup and restore:

Follow these steps to create a **snapshot** **via the AWS Management console:**

**Backup**

1. Go to the [Amazon RDS](https://eu-west-1.console.aws.amazon.com/rds/home) page
2. On the left pane click “Snapshots”
3. Click on the “Take snapshot” button
4. Choose “DBInstance” and specify the snapshot’s name
5. Click on the “Take snapshot” button

**Restore**

1. Go to the [Amazon RDS](https://eu-west-1.console.aws.amazon.com/rds/home) page
2. On the left pane click “Snapshots”
3. Select a snapshot you want to restore
4. Click on the “Action” > “Restore snapshot”
5. Fill in the information to create a new RDS\
   _If it is required to restore an existing RDS SQL Server instance then first remove it._\

6. Click on the “Restore Snapshot”

### Follow these steps to create a **snapshot** **via Native backup to S3 on the AWS console:**

For the RDS SQL Server instance, it can be performed as a native backup by saving it to S3. The RDS engine does not support the BACKUP DATABASE construct and by executing it, an error message appears. Use the following stored procedure **\[msdb]. \[Dbo]. \[Rds\_backup\_database]** to perform a native backup.

**Backup**

Before the creation of a backup, allow the RDS server to keep backups on S3. This can be set by the following steps:\


1. Open [AWS RDS Console](https://eu-west-1.console.aws.amazon.com/rds/home) and go to the Option Groups section\


   ![](/assets/0c015f597f30-backup-to-aws-rds-console-option-groups.png)

2. Create “Option group”\


   ![](/assets/3cf8283d3f82-backup-to-aws-rds-console-create-group-940x233.png)

3. Specify the appropriate “Engine Version” and “Engine”\


   ![](/assets/764a1ca7734a-backup-to-aws-rds-console-create-option-group.png)

4. Add the option to that group\


   ![](/assets/9056917fa425-backup-to-aws-rds-console-add-option.png)

5. Specify “SQLSERVER\_BACKUP\_RESTORE” and choose to create a new role in the “IAM role” section. In this case, the role with all the necessary permissions will be created.\


   ![](/assets/aa188fc765ba-backup-to-aws-rds-console-add-option-iam-role.png)

6. Specify a bucket where you prefer to store your backups at the “S3 Destination” section and click on the “Add Option”\


   ![](/assets/a44ea06fb8b6-backup-to-aws-rds-console-set-a-bucket.png)

7. Now set the “Option Group” option in a database’s settings. To do this choose a database from the list and click “Modify”. In the “Database Option” section, specify the “Option Group” that was created.\


   ![](/assets/8f9ff945e5ba-backup-to-aws-rds-console-set-the-option-group.png)

8. Apply the changes

Now everything is set. As a rule, it takes about fifteen minutes to have all settings applied, even if “apply immediately” was chosen.

Backups and restores are performed via T-SQL commands. The easiest way to do this is to use SQL Server Management Studio.

To perform a backup, please execute the following T-SQL command:

EXEC \[msdb].\[dbo].\[rds\_backup\_database]@source\_db\_name = '\<database name>',@S3\_arn\_to\_backup\_to = N'arn:aws:s3:::\<bucket name>/sample.backup'

If successful, a table in which information about the created backup task will be displayed:

![](/assets/cab7478a57fb-native-backup-to-s3-backup-via-ssms-940x302.png)

To track the backup process, execute another procedure **EXEC \[msdb]. \[Dbo]. \[Rds\_task\_status]**

![](/assets/3f3adcc3afe3-native-backup-to-s3-track-the-backup-process-via-ssms.png)

**Restore**

To restore a database, execute the following T-SQL script:

exec msdb.dbo.rds\_restore\_database @restore\_db\_name='\<database name>', @s3\_arn\_to\_restore\_from='arn:aws:s3:::\<bucket name>/sample.backup';

More details about the native backup/restore on S3 can be found [here](https://aws.amazon.com/premiumsupport/knowledge-center/native-backup-rds-sql-server/).