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How to fix BACKUP LOG cannot be performed because there is no current database backup

12 July,2021 by Tom Collins

Question: I'm attempting to create a backup of a SQL Server read only database , but getting an error message - BACKUP LOG cannot be performed because there is no current database backup

Why is this happening and are there any workarounds?

Answer:  Before we discuss a workaround , it's good to understand why  the message appears.

Compare these two scenarios - in both cases a new database is created and we take a backup. The difference is that in Scenario 1 the first full backup is taken after the database is placed into read only status .    Whereas Scenario 2 the  first full backup is taken before the database is placed into read only status. 

The error\information message -BACKUP LOG cannot be performed because there is no current database backup  - appears because  a modification cannot be made to the header file. Fully expected behaviour.

For scenario 2 - BACKUP LOG cannot modify the database because the database is read-only. The backup will continue, although subsequent backups will duplicate the work of this backup.  Once again - this is expected behaviour , where there's an attempt to backup the log files , but once again a change cannot be made to the header file 

 

As established - in both scenarios the messages are not unexpected. Use this information to develop a backup strategy to support SQL Server Read Only databases

Scenario 1 : Take the FIRST full backup after db is placed in read only will generate the error\warning message

create database test1;

alter database test1 set read_only with no_wait

backup database test1 to disk = 'E:\test1.bak';

BACKUP LOG [test1] TO  DISK = N'E:\test1.bak'

--MESSAGE: BACKUP LOG cannot modify the database because the database is read-only. The backup will continue, although subsequent backups will duplicate the work of this backup.

 

Scenario 2 : Take the FIRST full backup before db is placed in read only will generate the error\warning message

create database test6;

backup database test6 to disk = 'E:\test6.bak';

alter database test6 set read_only with no_wait

BACKUP LOG [test6] TO  DISK = N'E:\test6.bak'

---MESSAGE: BACKUP LOG cannot modify the database because the database is read-only. The backup will continue, although subsequent backups will duplicate the work of this backup.


Author: Tom Collins (http://www.sqlserver-dba.com)


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