PITR retention period > 1 day and < 7 days?

[clement911]

Is it not possible to configure a 3 days PITR retention period?

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• ID: 9492cedc-cea0-af9d-29a0-52cbca8c5e21
• Version Independent ID: 969a8654-8f95-d5de-351d-73c8e02e5d3a
• Content: Automatic, geo-redundant backups - Azure SQL Database & Azure SQL Managed Instance
• Content Source: articles/azure-sql/database/automated-backups-overview.md
• Service: sql-db-mi
• Sub-service: backup-restore
• GitHub Login: @anosov1960
• Microsoft Alias: sashan

[SadiqhAhmed-MSFT]

@clement911 Thanks for the question. We are looking into this and get back to you shortly.

[NavtejSaini-MSFT]

@clement911 No It is not possible to have PITR period less than 7 days. Azure will keep backups of atleast 7 days. And the reason for the same is explained here - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/automated-backups-overview?tabs=managed-instance#backup-storage-consumption

As explained above and general nature of SQL back ups, a full database back up is required for start of the restore or PITR. The Azure takes full back up every 7 days, hence all differential and Transactional DB backups have to kept to ensure PITR.

If the full DB back up frequency was 3 days or even less, your scenario would have been possible.

[NavtejSaini-MSFT]

@clement911 Do you need any further help regarding this.

[clement911]

@NavtejSaini-MSFT it is definitely possible to set PITR to 1 day.

See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/automated-backups-overview?tabs=single-database#change-the-pitr-backup-retention-period-by-using-the-azure-portal

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/backup-storage-cost-savings-for-azure-sql-database-and-managed-instance/

[NavtejSaini-MSFT]

@clement911 I apologize for the confusion in me understanding the question.This is a difference between changes done through portal and programmatically. Our author @shkale-msft will elaborate more regarding this.

[shkale-msft]

@clement911 You can use PowerShell to set the retention to 3 or a desired value between 1 -35 days for Azure SQL DB (except Hyperscale). Currently, Azure Portal only supports the fixed values shown there. We are working on brining a change to Azure Portal, where we will support a slider, which will let you set the retention to any value between 1-35 (for MI this already works). However, that change is still a few months out. Is it possible for you to use PowerShell till then?

Thanks, shreya

[clement911]

I see.. Can you point me to the relevant documentation on how to do that? What will it show in the portal if I change to 3 days? It's a shame it takes month, a slider seems like it would be easy enough... We are actually planning on moving to Hyperscale. You said it's not possible for Hyperscale? Do you have more info on that?

[shkale-msft]

Here is how you can do it using PowerShell: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/automated-backups-overview?tabs=single-database#change-the-pitr-backup-retention-period-by-using-powershell This is how you can do it using REST API: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/automated-backups-overview?tabs=single-database#change-the-pitr-backup-retention-period-by-using-the-rest-api

For Hyperscale, the default retention period is 7 days and it's fixed. The ability to change it to any value between 1-35 days is not available yet.

[clement911]

Thank you, I hope this becomes available in the portal with a slider soon.