SQL Storage Compress

Why SQL  Storage Compress?

• High-performance data compression: shrink the storage footprint of live SQL Server databases by up to 90% to save disk space and money.

• Work across SQL Server editions: provides data compression for any edition of SQL Server from 2000 to 2008 R2.

• Secure data: prevent unauthorized access to your databases with 256-bit AES encryption.

More information about SQL Storage Compress

SQL Storage Compress enables you to create compressed databases, shrinking your storage footprint by up to 90% to save disk space and money. Using SQL Storage Compress' wizard, or your own T-SQL scripts, you simply restore database backups to compressed files, and work with the compressed databases as usual. Native SQL Server backups and backups made with SQL Backup Pro, SQL HyperBac, or other third-party tools are all supported.

To SQL Server, there is no difference between uncompressed and compressed databases because of the way SQL Storage Compress operates. It's powered by HyperBac, an industry-proven compression and encryption technology for SQL Server, and uses a Windows service to intercept SQL Server's read/write requests to the file system. It then compresses and decompresses the file stream as required.

More information is available in the SQL Storage Compress I/O Reliability Program whitepaper. This covers core functional Microsoft SQL Server storage requirements and has been reviewed successfully as part of Microsoft's SQL Server I/O Reliability Program.

Running your databases from compressed files lets you make the most of your environment and cut down on expensive hardware, such as SANs and SSD drives. You can even run compressed databases on systems that lack space for an uncompressed version. This makes it ideal for work with heavy storage requirements, such as data warehousing, BI, testing and development, or disaster recovery.

• High-performance compression: SQL Storage Compress enables you to create compressed databases, shrinking their storage footprint by up to 90%. You can even restore to systems that lack the space for an uncompressed version.

• Seamless integration: SQL Storage Compress runs through the HyperBac Service, a Windows service entirely external of SQL Server, which intercepts SQL Server’s read/write requests to the file system. No configuration changes to SQL Server are required. Transactional consistency, durability and fault tolerance are all maintained, and read and write operations are fully supported.

• Works across SQL Server editions: SQL Storage Compress offers compression for all editions of SQL Server, from 2000 to 2008 R2.

• Restore Backup to Compressed Database Wizard: you can use SQL Storage Compress with native T-SQL RESTORE commands, or a built-in Wizard.

• Powerful encryption: SQL Storage Compress can secure the data in live databases with 256-bit AES encryption.

• Data-only restores: most databases contain unallocated space to allow for data expansion. Running restores through SQL Storage Compress eliminates this white space, keeping compressed databases as small as possible.

• Straightforward verification: run DBCC CHECKDB through the Wizard as part of your restore process.

• Space savings overview: SQL Storage Compress displays the sizes of your databases, current space savings, and potential savings you could make with further compression.

• Support for multiple file types: SQL Storage Compress supports full, differential and transaction log backups created with native SQL Server, SQL Backup Pro, SQL HyperBac, and other third party backup tools.