1. Sign in to the database server where the Snow Inventory and Snow License Manager databases are hosted. This example starts with the Snow Inventory database.

2. Open Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio.

   

3. Enter your SQL Server credentials, then select Connect.

   

4. Check that the drive or location where you plan to store the Snow Inventory and Snow License Manager database backups has enough free disk space. Then continue to the next step.

5. In Object Explorer, expand Databases. Right-click the Snow Inventory database, then select Tasks > Back Up....

   

6. On the General page of the Back Up Database dialog, confirm the following settings:

   • Database: The Snow Inventory database.
   • Backup type: Full.
   • Backup component: Database.
   • Back up to: Disk.

   One or more backup locations are listed under Destination by default. Take a screenshot to record these locations.

   If the specified drive has enough free disk space, you can select OK to start the backup without following the destination-change instructions below. When the backup is complete, open the folder where it was saved and zip or compress the backup before sending it to Snow Support.

   NOTE: Do not perform the backup while the Snow Data Update Job is running.

   

7. If you need to use a different drive to ensure enough free disk space, continue to step 8.

8. Create a folder on the drive where you want to save the backups. For example, create a folder named Snow DB Backups on drive F.

   

9. If two entries are listed under Destination, record both or take a screenshot. You will restore these entries later.

   Select each existing entry and select Remove. When the list is empty, select Add....

   

   

   

10. In the Select Backup Destination dialog, select the browse button (...) next to File name.

    In the Locate Database Files dialog, select the drive and folder you created. In this example, select drive F and the Snow DB Backups folder.

    Enter a backup filename in File name, such as SnowInventory_Backup_28Dec2023, then select OK.

    In the Select Backup Destination dialog, check the displayed path and filename, then select OK.

    

    

11. In the Back Up Database dialog, select OK to start the backup.

    

12. When the backup completes successfully, select OK to close the confirmation message.

    Open the backup folder in File Explorer. Zip or compress the backup file, then attach it to your Snow Support ticket.

    

13. If you also need to back up the Snow License Manager database, follow the same steps for that database.

    In Object Explorer, expand Databases. Right-click the Snow License Manager database, then select Tasks > Back Up....

    If you need to change the backup location, record the existing destination, select it, and select Remove. Select Add..., then select the browse button (...) next to File name.

    

    

    

    

14. In the Locate Database Files dialog, select the backup drive and folder. In this example, select drive F and the Snow DB Backups folder.

    Name the backup file to identify it as the Snow License Manager database backup. Ideally, include a timestamp in the filename. The example uses SnowLicenseManager_Backup_28Dec23.

    Select OK in the Locate Database Files dialog, then select OK in the Select Backup Destination dialog.

    In the Back Up Database dialog, confirm that Backup type is Full, Backup component is Database, and Back up to is Disk. Select OK to start the backup.

    When the backup completes successfully, select OK. Open the backup folder, zip or compress the backup file, and attach it to your Snow Support ticket.

    

    

    

    

IMPORTANT: For both database backups (SnowInventory and SnowLicenseManager), restore the original backup drive and directory used before this procedure so that backups continue as previously.