As with any software system that stores its data within a database, you need to have a sound backup/restore process to protect your data. Team Foundation Server is no different. Considering the number and types of artifacts stored within TFS, every TFS installation should have a sound backup strategy. This sounds easy enough, but if you’ve ever read the MSDN documentation, “Backing Up and Restoring Your Deployment”, then you know there are numerous steps involved with creating a backup strategy for your TFS installation. If you’re in a small shop, then you may not have dedicated database administrators who are comfortable following these steps ensuring the databases are backed up.
Today, Brian Harry posted a blog entry (here) announcing a new power tool, to be included with the next release of the Team Foundation Power Tools, that allows you to easily implement a backup strategy for your TFS installation. The entire process is wizard driven allowing you to quickly and easily setup a backup strategy and schedule. You do not need to understand all the ins-and-outs of the underlying database backup jobs.
Creating a backup strategy is only half the equation. The new power tool will also allow you to easily restore your backed up databases in one of two ways: 1) By team project collection (TPC) or 2) the entire set of TFS databases.
There is no release date set as of yet but it is expected to be released within the next couple of months.
You can read the full post here.