# Enabling Volume Copy Block-Level Backups for SQL Databases from the Command Center

As data volumes and backup sizes continue to grow, managing backup operations and restore times becomes increasingly challenging. To address this, Commvault introduces Volume copy (block-level backup) with incremental backups. This approach improves backup performance and reduces restore times.

Important

- If legacy block-level backups using Optimize for table-level restore are already enabled, they continue to function as before. An option to switch to Volume copy (block-level backup) is available in the Command Center.

- The Optimize for table-level restore option is deprecated for new subclients but remains supported if already enabled.

- The client must have the MediaAgent package installed to enable volume copy (block-level backup) functionality.

- The backup plan for volume-level backups must have Spool retention configured on a backup copy.

You can configure a subclient to perform block-level backups for Microsoft SQL Server on Windows.

### Supported backup types

- Full

- Incremental

- Synthetic Full

  - Always preceded by a transaction log backup

  - Runs once per month based on the backup plan schedule

- Transaction Log

  - Continues to run as traditional VDI backups

## Procedure

1. From the Command Center navigation pane, go to Protect > Databases.

   The Overview page appears.

2. On the Instances tab, click the SQL instance.

   The Instance page appears.

3. On the Subclients tab, click the subclient that you want to configure.

4. In the Settings section, move the Volume copy (block-level backup) toggle key to the right.

5. When prompted, type CONFIRM to enable the option.

Note

- After enabling Volume copy (block-level backup) on a subclient, the Enable snap backup toggle is automatically enabled with the Native snap engine. If the underlying storage is array-based, you can select the Hardware snap engine to improve backup copy performance.

- After enabling Volume copy (block-level backup) on a subclient, the next backup is automatically converted to a full backup.

- After enabling Volume copy (block-level backup) operations on a subclient, Qsnap driver will be automatically installed on the client. Installing the QSnap driver requires a system reboot. Until the reboot is completed, all incremental backups continue to run as full backups.

For more information see, Volume Level Restores.

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