BACK UP SQL SERVER TO AN FTP SERVER
SQL Backup Master can automatically back up your SQL Server databases to an FTP server on a schedule you define. This tutorial walks through the complete process – from creating a backup job and connecting to SQL Server through configuring the FTP destination and verifying your first backup.
Plain FTP, FTPS (FTP over TLS/SSL), and SFTP (FTP over SSH) servers are all supported, including SFTP private-key authentication – so you can keep backup transfers encrypted in transit. SQL Backup Master compresses each backup before upload, and can optionally encrypt it as well.
Prerequisites
- An FTP, FTPS, or SFTP server, along with its host address and login credentials (or an SSH private key for SFTP).
- SQL Backup Master installed on a Windows host that can reach both your SQL Server instance and the FTP server.
- Credentials for a SQL Server login (or a Windows account) with permission to back up your databases.
Step 1: Create a backup job
In SQL Backup Master, create a new database backup job. The Database Backup Editor window will open – give the job a descriptive name and (optionally) a description so it's easy to identify later.
Step 2: Connect to SQL Server
Click Choose SQL Server in the backup job editor. The SQL Server connection dialog will appear. Enter your SQL Server instance name in the Server Name field. Common formats include:
(local)\SQLExpress – local SQL Server Express instance
(local) – local SQL Server default instance
Server1\SQLExpress – remote SQL Server Express instance
Server1 – remote default instance
Click Test SQL Connection to verify connectivity before proceeding, then OK.
Step 3: Select databases
The backup job editor now lists the databases available on your SQL Server instance. Check the databases you'd like to back up. To automatically include databases created in the future, enable the option to back up all non-system databases.
Step 4: Add the FTP destination
Under Destinations, click Add, then double-click FTP Server in the destination list. The FTP Destination Settings window will appear.
Enter your FTP server's host address, username, and password. The advanced configuration options let you switch the connection type to FTPS (TLS/SSL) or SFTP (SSH) – including SFTP authentication with a private key instead of a password – and configure a SOCKS4/SOCKS5 proxy if your network requires one.
Click Test to verify the connection, then OK to save the destination.
Step 5: Schedule and settings
SQL Backup Master can run the job automatically on a recurring schedule – configure one in the backup job editor if you'd like unattended backups. You can also review compression, encryption, and retention options in the job's settings before saving.
Step 6: Run and verify the backup
Save the backup job and return to the main window. Select the job and click Back up now. When the job completes, review the job log to confirm each database backed up and uploaded successfully – the log is also the first place to look if anything goes wrong. You can then browse the FTP server to confirm the backup files arrived in the expected folder.
Related resources
- FTP backup product tour – annotated screenshots of the steps above.
- FTP destination documentation – full reference for all destination settings.
- SFTP private key authentication – configuring key-based SFTP logins.