Manual Backups for Azure SQL Database
Conventional database backup statements don't work in Azure SQL Database. A manual backup consists of exporting the database as a DACPAC (schema) or BACPAC (schema + data) and bcp (bulk copy program utility) out the data into CSV files.
Manual backups can be performed in the following ways:
- Exporting a
BACPACto your Azure storage account using the Azure portal - Exporting a
BACPACto your Azure storage account using PowerShell - Exporting a
BACPACusing SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) - Exporting a
BACPACor aDACPACto an on-premises system usingsqlpackage.exe
DACPAC and BACPAC
DACPAC stands for Data-Tier Application Package and contains the database schema in .xml format. A BACPAC is a DACPAC with data.
DAC is a database life cycle management tool that simplifies the development, deployment, and management of data tier elements supporting an application.
A BACPAC is generally used to move a database...