How to Back Up the Updates Publisher Database

System Center Updates Publisher does not have an automatic backup task, but a manual backup should be performed on a regular basis. The recommended method for backing up the data in the Updates Publisher database is to use SQL Server 2005 or SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. All of the software updates and Updates Publisher settings are backed up and can be easily restored. Both versions of SQL Server 2005 have a graphical user interface to create a backup of the database.

When SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is used for the Updates Publisher database, SQL Server Management Studio Express must be installed to back up and restore the database in a graphical user interface. For more information about SQL Server Management Studio Express, see SQL Server Management Studio Express in the SQL Server 2005 Books Online (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=66480)

When SQL Server 2005 is used for the Updates Publisher database, use SQL Server Management Studio for the backup process. For more information about SQL Server Management Studio, see Introducing SQL Server Management Studio in the SQL Server 2005 Books Online (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=66481).

Use the procedures in this topic to download, install, and use SQL Server Management Studio Express or use SQL Server Management Studio to back up the Updates Publisher database.

To download, install, and use SQL Server Management Studio Express to back up the Updates Publisher database

1. Download SQL Server Management Studio Express from SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=66482) and install it on the computer running Updates Publisher.

2. Start SQL Server Management Studio Express, leave the default values in Server name and Authentication, and then click Connect.

3. Navigate to the mscuptdb database:

   <Server Name>\SQLEXPRESS

     └ Databases

       └ mscuptdb

4. Right-click mscuptdb, click Tasks, and then click Backup.

5. Provide a Name and Description for the backup, and then click OK. The mscuptdb database is backed up by default in the mscuptdb.bak file located at %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Backup\.

To use SQL Server Management Studio to back up the Updates Publisher database

1. Start SQL Server Management Studio, leave the default values in Server name and Authentication, and then click Connect.

2. Navigate to the mscuptdb database:

   <Server Name>\SQLEXPRESS

     └ Databases

       └ mscuptdb

3. Select Database Engine for Server type, select the server name, and then click Connect.

4. Right-click mscuptdb, click Tasks, and then click Backup.

5. Provide a Name and Description for the backup, and then click OK.

   The mscuptdb database is backed up by default in the mscuptdb.bak file located at %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Backup\.

See Also

Tasks

How to Export Software Updates
How to Import Software Updates Catalogs

Concepts

How to Restore the Updates Publisher Database

Other Resources

Exporting Software Updates
Importing Software Updates Catalogs
Troubleshooting Updates Publisher
Updates Publisher Back Up and Restore