This topic describes how to download the unencrypted data backup files and log backup files of an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance. You can archive the backup files that you download and use the backup files to restore data to on-premises databases.
For more information about the data backup and log backup features, see Back up an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
Limits
If the AliyunRDSReadOnlyAccess policy is attached to a RAM user, the RAM user has only the read permissions and cannot download data backup files or log backup files. You must attach the AliyunRDSFullAccess policy to the RAM user.
Backup files that are generated by using the snapshot backup feature cannot be downloaded. For more information, see Use the snapshot backup feature.
Billing rules
If you download backup files over the Internet, you are charged for the traffic that you consume.
Downloads over an internal network: You are not charged for the traffic that you consume.
Downloads over the Internet: After the free quota of 500 GB per instance-month is exhausted, you are charged for the excess traffic that you consume based on the pay-as-you-go billing method. Fees are deducted from your account on a daily basis. For more information, see Network traffic fees.
To view the volume of traffic that you consumed to download backup files over the Internet, you can log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console, find your RDS instance, and then click the ID of the instance to go to the Basic Information page of the RDS instance. Then, you can view the Backup Downloads parameter in the Usage Statistics section of the page.
We recommend that you purchase a subscription network plan to offset the fee for the Internet traffic that is used to download the backup files. A large capacity of a network plan indicates a high discount. For more information, see Use network plans.
Download the full or incremental physical backup files of an RDS instance
Go to the Instances page. In the top navigation bar, select the region in which the RDS instance resides. Then, find the RDS instance and click the ID of the instance.
In the left-side navigation pane of the page that appears, click Backup and Restoration.
On the Base Backups tab, click the Data Backup tab.
Specify the time range that you want to query.
Find the data backup file that you want to download. In the Actions column, click Download Instance Backup.
NoteIf Download Instance Backup cannot be found in the Actions column, resolve the issue based on the description in Limits.
If you want to download a data backup file and use the file to restore data, we recommend that you select the data backup file that is created at the point in time closest to the point in time to which you want to restore data.
If you want to download a log backup file and use the file to restore data to an on-premises database, the start time of the log backup file must be within a specific time range. The time range starts after the point in time at which the selected data backup file is generated and ends before the point in time to which you want to restore data.
In the dialog box that appears, read and select the description and click Download or copy the URL that you can use to download the backup file.
Internal URL: If your virtual private cloud (VPC)-type Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instance can communicate with the RDS instance over an internal network, you can log on to your ECS instance and use the internal URL to download the backup file. This method is faster and more secure.
Public URL: If the RDS instance cannot be connected over an internal network, you can use the public URL to download the backup file.
NoteIf you download the backup file over the Internet, you are charged for the Internet traffic that exceeds the free quota. For more information about the free quota and billing, see Billing rules.
Download the physical backup files of individual databases
Go to the Instances page. In the top navigation bar, select the region in which the RDS instance resides. Then, find the RDS instance and click the ID of the instance.
In the left-side navigation pane of the page that appears, click Backup and Restoration.
On the Base Backups tab, click the Data Backup tab.
Specify the time range that you want to query.
Find the data backup file that you want to download and click Download Database Backup in the Actions column.
NoteAfter you click Download Single Database Backup File, you can download full physical backup sets but you cannot download incremental backup sets.
On the Download Database Backup page, click Download in the Actions column.
NoteIf Download Instance Backup cannot be found in the Actions column, resolve the issue based on the description in Limits.
If you want to download a data backup file and use the file to restore data, we recommend that you select the data backup file that is created at the point in time closest to the point in time to which you want to restore data.
If you want to download a log backup file and use the file to restore data to an on-premises database, the start time of the log backup file must be within a specific time range. The time range starts after the point in time at which the selected data backup file is generated and ends before the point in time to which you want to restore data.
If you are not authorized to download a backup file, we recommend that you attach the
DescribeDownloadLinkDetailspolicy to your Alibaba Cloud account.
In the dialog box that appears, read and select the description and click Download or copy the URL that you can use to download the backup file.
Internal URL: If your virtual private cloud (VPC)-type Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instance can communicate with the RDS instance over an internal network, you can log on to your ECS instance and use the internal URL to download the backup file. This method is faster and more secure.
Public URL: If the RDS instance cannot be connected over an internal network, you can use the public URL to download the backup file.
NoteIf you download the backup file over the Internet, you are charged for the Internet traffic that exceeds the free quota. For more information about the free quota and billing, see Billing rules.
Download log backup files
Go to the Instances page. In the top navigation bar, select the region in which the RDS instance resides. Then, find the RDS instance and click the ID of the instance.
In the left-side navigation pane of the page that appears, click Backup and Restoration.
On the Base Backups tab, click the Log Backup tab.
Specify the time range that you want to query.
Find the log backup file that you want to download and click Download in the Actions column.
NoteIf Download Instance Backup cannot be found in the Actions column, resolve the issue based on the description in Limits.
If you want to download a data backup file and use the file to restore data, we recommend that you select the data backup file that is created at the point in time closest to the point in time to which you want to restore data.
If you want to download a log backup file and use the file to restore data to an on-premises database, the start time of the log backup file must be within a specific time range. The time range starts after the point in time at which the selected data backup file is generated and ends before the point in time to which you want to restore data.
In the dialog box that appears, read and select the description and click Download or copy the URL that you can use to download the backup file.
Internal URL: If your virtual private cloud (VPC)-type Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instance can communicate with the RDS instance over an internal network, you can log on to your ECS instance and use the internal URL to download the backup file. This method is faster and more secure.
Public URL: If the RDS instance cannot be connected over an internal network, you can use the public URL to download the backup file.
NoteIf you download the backup file over the Internet, you are charged for the Internet traffic that exceeds the free quota. For more information about the free quota and billing, see Billing rules.
What to do next
If you want to restore the data of your RDS instance to a self-managed SQL Server instance, you can use one of the following solutions:
Solution 1: Download the physical backup file of the RDS instance and upload the downloaded backup file to the server on which the self-managed SQL Server instance resides for backup decompression and data restoration. For more information, see Migrate the data of an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance to a self-managed SQL Server instance.
Solution 2: Use Data Transmission Service (DTS) to migrate data of the RDS instance to the self-managed SQL Server instance. For more information, see Migrate data from an SQL Server database.
Solution 3: Use other solutions. For more information, see Microsoft documentation.
FAQ
What are the differences between Download Instance Backup and Download Database Backup?
The following list describes the major differences:
Download Instance Backup File: You can download the entire backup set of an RDS instance to your local computer. The backup set contains all data of the RDS instance or the data of individual databases that are manually backed up. The data that you can download depends on your actual backup set.
Download Single Database Backup File: You can download full physical backup files of individual databases on an RDS instance by using the required feature that is provided by Database Backup (DBS). The feature allows you to download full physical backup files of individual databases from the full physical backup file of the RDS instance. For more information, see What is DBS?
You can view the supported features in the ApsaraDB RDS console.