Introduction

Many retailers run SQL Server’s Express Edition on their store systems. However, one of the drawbacks of using Express Edition is there is no SQL Server Agent. Without SQL Server Agent, you will not be able to setup any SQL Server jobs. There are no possibilities of automating the SQL backups and archiving unless you are already using a process to run these backups and maintain them on regular basis.

Working with RemoteLink? If you are using RemoteLink on your store devices, you are already covered. You will not need to buy any other tool to perform these database backups.

Why Do We Need PowerShell Scripts?

The RemoteLink server enables execution of any script or executable you want to run on a store’s back office system or point of sale register. The PowerShell script has become a universal scripting tool to perform any tasks on a Windows-based endpoint system. With PowerShell, you can access all .Net libraries. You can automate a process with the help of a PowerShell script. The only requirement is that the RemoteLink client agent must be granted access to run PowerShell scripts on the designated store systems.

How Do We Do This?

A PowerShell script will be created to run backups. The PowerShell script will be passed several parameters in order to customize the process. The PowerShell script will also be used to perform backup archiving and clean up. You can specify number of days you want to keep the backup files in the backup folder.

We will need to setup a session on your RemoteLink server. This session will be assigned to a group of store endpoints (clients). It may also include a schedule setup to run the backups at particular time only.

Final Results

A scheduled RemoteLink session will run at the designated time and execute the PowerShell script on assigned client machine. The session will connect to the SQL Server instance and backup all databases in a specific folder. You may want RemoteLink to retrieve the backup files from the client machine to the designated host server or you may want to compress these backup files to save disk space.

Need Help?

RemoteRelief has SQL, SQL Database, and RemoteLink subject matter experts (SME), who aid clients in setting up and automating these types of processes. If you would like more information, subscribe to our tech blogs. If you are interested in a demonstration or learning more about operational data movement, RemoteLink features, automation and reporting capabilities click here to speak with an SQL SME.