In new version of ApexSQL Backup 2017 R5 we added several new features and improvements.
Agentless deployment on remote servers
Starting from this version, ApexSQL Backup can run without the server-side components, which was an integral part of previous versions, in the form of the ApexSQL Backup Agent.
After thorough research and development, all that is now needed to run ApexSQL Backup on local and remote servers is an active and running Microsoft SQL Server Agent with which ApexSQL Backup now communicates and performs its operations. This has proven to be one of the more challenging parts in development, both for an ease of use standpoint, as well as more reliable communication between the ApexSQL Backup user interface and the servers on which operations need to be performed. The ApexSQL Backup Agent still needs to be installed on the computer where the ApexSQL Backup client is installed in order to communicate with the servers.
Restores of individual database objects
ApexSQL Backup now supports individual object restore, from a database on another server, or from a backup file.
Intelligent database backup scheduling
A new feature, we added in the latest release of ApexSQL Backup, is intelligent database backup scheduling. How it works is that it checks the schedules made on the same server where you are scheduling a new operation, and if it overlaps another schedule, a message will come up.
The default job duration can be set in the Options.
One thing to note is that while we can set the default job duration in the options, when the schedule is being made, ApexSQL Backup checks for the completion time if there are any previously run jobs on the same database. If it is longer than 15 minutes which is the default value in this case, then the time it took to complete the previous scheduled job becomes the estimated job duration for the schedule being made instead of 15 minutes. If, on the other hand, completion time was less than 15 minutes, then the default value of 15 minutes will be taken as the job duration.
Network resilience options
Even though ApexSQL Backup has supported network resilience in earlier versions, in the latest version we can setup the parameters per schedule.
T-SQL script generation for every supported job
As an added usability feature, every supported job now features T-SQL script generation for the users to view and modify to their needs.
October 18, 2017
