Introduction

Pure Storage® FlashArray Management Extension for Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (aka FA SSMS Extension) is a database backup and restore extension for Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). The extension supports creating Application Consistent snapshots using the Pure Storage Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) Hardware Provider. The extension can be used from the SSMS GUI or automated using the Pure Storage Backup SDK Windows PowerShell module. Database Administrators (DBAs) can manage backup and restore operations on local and remote databases from a centralized SSMS deployment.

Components

The components that are included with the FA SSMS Extension:

  • FA SSMS Extension for SQL Server Management Studio.
  • Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) hardware provider.
  • Pure Storage Backup SDK Windows PowerShell module for automation of all operations that can be performed in the SSMS extension.

Please refer to the Microsoft Platform Guide – Pure Storage FlashArray Management Extension for Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio for full details.

Reference

Supported Features

The Microsoft Support Matrix lists recently delivered versions of the FA SSMS Extension and what is supported in a table view.

  • Application Consistent Snapshots using the VSS hardware provider.
  • Support for Full or Copy-Only backups.
    • Full Backups — A full database backup backs up the entire database. This includes part of the transaction log so that the full database can be recovered after a full database backup is restored. Full database backups represent the database at the time the backup finished. For more details review Full Database Backups (SQL Server).
    • Copy-Only Backups — This is a SQL Server backup that is independent of the sequence of conventional SQL Server backups. In a Full Backup the database is alerted and affects how later backups are restored. Copy-Only Backups provide the ability to use a database for scenarios such as dev/test/QA. For more details review Copy-Only Backups (SQL Server).
  • Support for Point-in-Time Recovery using the No-Recovery option when restoring a database.
  • Support for Microsoft SQL Server physical deployments.
  • Support for VMware ESXi physical Raw Device Maps (pRDMs) and virtual volumes (vVols).
  • Support for Protection
  • Restoring databases can be performed in the following use cases:
    • Database Restore: Import a backup (snapshot), then restore a database to the original location. This operation will perform an overwrite of the original database volumes in place by restoring Pure Volumes that hold database or transaction log files. Other data, including other SQL data files located on those Pure Volumes will also be impacted by this point-in-time restore.
    • Database Restore with No-Recovery: Import a backup (snapshot), then restore a database in No-Recovery Mode. Additional Transaction Logs can be applied manually as the database is left in the Recovering state.
    • Database Mount: Import a backup (snapshot), then restore a database to a different drive letter or mount point on the original or a different server, using the Mount option. The database files can be copied to the original location, or the database can be directly attached. If attached to the original server be sure to make the “Attach as” name unique.
  • Support for scheduling using SQL Server Agents & Jobs with the CmdExec proxy option.
  • Support for automating backup and restore using the Pure Storage Backup SDK. As part of creating a backup configuration or restore in SSMS a PowerShell - Script button is provided for cut & paste of the PowerShell cmdlet details.

Installation

A compressed zip file is provided that contains all of the components for the extensions along with the User Guide and Release Notes.

For Pure Storage® FlashArray Management Extension for Microsoft® SQL Server® Management Studio v2.5.521, you can downloaded from the followink link: