SQL DB backup via VM blade

Author: AbhishekMallick-MS

articles/backup/backup-sql-server-database-from-azure-vm-blade.md

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+---
+title: Back up SQL Server from the Azure VM blade using Azure Backup
+description: In this article, learn how to back up SQL Server databases from the Azure VM blade via the Azure portal.
+ms.topic: how-to
+ms.date: 07/19/2024
+ms.service: backup
+author: AbhishekMallick-MS
+ms.author: v-abhmallick
+---
+# Back up a SQL Server from the Azure VM blade
+
+This article describes how to use Azure Backup to back up a SQL Server (running in Azure VM) from the SQL VM resource via the Azure portal.
+
+SQL Server databases are critical workloads that require a low recovery-point objective (RPO) and long-term retention. You can back up SQL Server databases running on Azure virtual machines (VMs) by using [Azure Backup](backup-overview.md).
+
+>[!Note]
+>Learn more about the [SQL backup supported configurations and scenarios](sql-support-matrix.md).
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+Before you back up a SQL Server database, see the [backup criteria](backup-sql-server-database-azure-vms.md#prerequisites).
+
+## Configure backup for SQLServer database
+
+To configure backup for SQL Server database from the SQL VM blade, follow these steps:
+
+1. In the [Azure portal](https://portal.azure.com/), go to the *SQL VM resource*. 
+
+   >[!Note]
+   >SQL Server resource is different from the Virtual Machine resource.
+
+2. Go to **Settings** > **Backups**.
+
+   If the backup isn’t configured for the VM, the following backup options appear:
+
+   - **Azure Backup**
+   - **Automated Backup**
+
+3. On the **Azure Backup** blade, select **Enable** to start configuring the backup for the SQL Server using Azure Backup.
+
+4. To start the backup operation, select an *existing Recovery Services vault* or [create a new  vault](backup-sql-server-database-azure-vms.md#create-a-recovery-services-vault).
+
+5. Select **Discover** to start discovering databases in the VM.
+
+   This operation will take some time to run when performed for the first time.
+
+   Azure Backup discovers all SQL Server databases on the VM. During discovery, the following operations run in the background:
+
+   1. Azure Backup registers the VM with the vault for workload backup. All databases on the registered VM can only be backed up to this vault.
+   2. Azure Backup installs the AzureBackupWindowsWorkload extension on the VM. No agent is installed on the SQL database.
+   3. Azure Backup creates the service account NT Service\AzureWLBackupPluginSvc on the VM.
+   4. All backup and restore operations use the service account.
+   5. NT Service\AzureWLBackupPluginSvc needs SQL sysadmin permissions. All SQL Server VMs created in Azure Marketplace come with the SqlIaaSExtension installed.
+
+      The AzureBackupWindowsWorkload extension uses the SQLIaaSExtension to automatically get the necessary permissions.
+
+6. Once the operation is completed, select **Configure backup**.
+
+7. Define a backup policy using one of the following options:
+
+   1. Select the default policy as *HourlyLogBackup*.
+   2. Select an existing backup policy previously created for SQL.
+   3. Create a new policy based on your RPO and retention range.
+
+8. Select **Add** to view all the registered availability groups and standalone SQL Server instances. 
+
+9. On **Select items to backup**,  expand the list of all the *unprotected databases* in that instance or the *Always On availability group*.
+
+10. Select the *databases* to protect and select **OK**.
+
+11. To optimize backup loads, Azure Backup allows/permits a maximum number of 50 databases in one backup job.
+
+   1. To protect more than 50 databases, configure multiple backups.
+   2. To enable the entire instance or the Always On availability group, in the AUTOPROTECT drop-down list, select ON, and then select OK.
+
+12. Select **Enable Backup** to submit the Configure Protection operation and track the configuration progress in the Notifications area of the portal.
+
+13. To get an overview of your configured backups and a summary of backup jobs,  go to **Settings** > **Backups** in the SQL VM resource.   
+
+## Next steps
+
+- [Restore SQL Server databases on Azure VM](restore-sql-database-azure-vm.md)
+- [Manage and monitor backed up SQL Server databases](manage-monitor-sql-database-backup.md)
+- [Troubleshoot backups on a SQL Server database](backup-sql-server-azure-troubleshoot.md)
+- [FAQ - Backing up SQL Server databases on Azure VMs - Azure Backup | Microsoft Learn](faq-backup-sql-server.md)