Q) Where is the Configuration Manager console? Is that in SQL server?
No, Configuration Manager is a part of Microsoft System Center Configuration
Manager. If you don't work with this application, right-click on My Computer
on your Report Server.
Q) If I want to backup or save an RDL report, can I just navigate to the
Report Server via a browser, and then right-click on the Report, and do a
Save As?
Yes, this will work and perhaps is what I was trying to say in my previous
post.
Q) Once I save the RDL file, import it into BIDS, modify the report, and
when I re-deploy the report, will my modified report over-write the existing
report on the server?
This question tells me one thing: the report server portal has not been
deployed adequately. There is no "one size fits all", but at my clients, we
have devised a mechanism to control reports going to production. Create 3
folders: a Development folder, a QA Test folder and a Production Reports
folder. You can create any subfolder system you want for your production
reports folder, for example, Sales, Purchasing, or whatever works for your
company.
In addition, instead of keeping the same name for the RDL, I suggest you use
a manual versioning mechanism. For example, lets consider the following
report: PM Transactions.rdl. Your first deployment of this report can be PM
Transactions 1.0.rdl. If you make a change to this report again, you can save
as PM Transaction 1.1.rdl. If you make a major change/rework then you can
perhaps save as PM Transaction 2.0.rdl, and so forth. These reports will all
go to your development folder initially, where they are unit tested, then
moved to the QA Test folder for user acceptance testing, where if approved,
they get moved to Production. You can decomission (not delete) the previous
RDL version once you are comfortable with the results of the subsequent
version. I also like this system of versioning because it allows me to
quickly identify what version is in production. DON'T FORGET TO DOCUMENT WHAT
CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE FROM VERSION TO VERSION, otherwise this will make no
sense.
Q) Let's say if all hell breaks loose and none of the reports are working on
Reporting Services, if I restore the backup of the ReportServer database,
will that bring all the reports back to normal?
Yes, but again, if you implement the versioning approach above, this should
minimize your chances of damaging existing working production reports, even
if you don't implement the folder approach.
This brings me to the following: if your reports happen to use stored
procedures, views, etc., you may want to version those too. For example PM
Transaction v1.0.rdl can be associated to dbo.uspPMTransactions_10, PM
Transaction v1.1.rdl can be associated to dbo.uspPMTransactons_11, and so on.
That way, if v1.0 is in production, you can still confortably duplicate the
objects and called them v1.1 and continue working without affecting users in
production.
But to your original question, if all hell breaks loose, you can definately
restore the Report Server database.
Hope this helps,
--
MG.-
Mariano Gomez, MIS, MCP, PMP
Maximum Global Business, LLC
http://www.maximumglobalbusiness.com
The Dynamics GP Blogster at http://dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com
Post by GPLoveHateRelationshipMGomez,
Once again thanks for your detailed input...it was very helpful.
Okay I will be sure to take full backup of the ReportServer database and
save those (.rdl) files prior to modifying existing reports.
Post by Mariano GomezPost by Mariano GomezHowever, if your intention is to retrieve the report definition language
file (.rdl) for each report deployed in Report Server, in the Configuration
Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager
Q) Where is the Configuration Manager console? Is that in SQL server?
Q) If I want to backup or save an RDL report, can I just navigate to the
Report Server via a browser, and then right-click on the Report, and do a
Save As?
Q) Once I save the RDL file, import it into BIDS, modify the report, and
when I re-deploy the report, will my modified report over-write the existing
report on the server?
Q) Let's say if all hell breaks loose and none of the reports are working on
Reporting Services, if I restore the backup of the ReportServer database,
will that bring all the reports back to normal?
Thanks vmuch for those links you sent me...I will review those too.
And I'll defintely be sure to flag this post and your response as helpful.
I'm sure it will benefit others who have same question :-) You da man MGomez
:-)
Post by Mariano GomezGPLHR,
As always, thanks for answering my question and your valuable input.<
Glad to know I can help, you are utmost welcome.
Well someone else designed SSRS reports previously and they are no longer with the company, so I cannot find their work/report source code in BIDS. So let's assume I don't have reports in BIDS, how can I take a backup of the reports that have already been deployed to the Report Server?
The way I understand it, with Reporting Services, reports are created
locally on a workstation using BIDS (VS) and then they are uploaded or
"deployed" to the Report Server (similar to uploading a file to a FTP server
right?). So to re-phrase my question, how can I take a solid backup of the
reports already on the ReportServer assuming I don't have any of the reports
locally in BIDS?<
The report server database is a SQL Server database that stores Reporting
Services data such as report definitions, report meta data, cached reports,
snapshots, and resources. It also stores security settings, encrypted data,
scheduling and delivery data, and extension information. If you backup the
report server database you will be backing up the reports as well.
However, if your intention is to retrieve the report definition language
file (.rdl) for each report deployed in Report Server, in the Configuration
Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager / Site
Database / Computer Management / Reporting / Reporting Services / <Report
Server Name>, and expand the node. Right-click a SQL Reporting Services
report, and click Properties.
Also, in Report Server, you can select the report, click on properties, then
edit and save the report back to an rdl.
Is it just a matter of me saving the RDL report files and Data Sources? What
about the ReportServer database in SQL, should I be backing up that database
also?<
That's correct! You must backup your report server database on a regular
basis.
Lastly, do you know where I can find official Microsoft documentation specifically on how to backup and restore Reports created using SQL Reporting Services? There must be some documentation out there, but I've been searching all over KB and Google, but no luck finding anything concrete.<
Technet 512027 - How to Modify and Existing SQL Reporting Services Report -
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc512027.aspx
Technet 155814 - Backup and Restore Operations for a Reporting Services
Installation -
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms155814(SQL.90).aspx
There are also many books on Reporting Services, check out a few at your
local B&N.
Best regards,
--
MG.-
Mariano Gomez, MIS, MCP, PMP
Maximum Global Business, LLC
http://www.maximumglobalbusiness.com
The Dynamics GP Blogster at http://dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com
Hi Mariano,
As always, thanks for answering my question and your valuable input.
Well someone else designed SSRS reports previously and they are no longer
with the company, so I cannot find their work/report source code in BIDS. So
let's assume I don't have reports in BIDS, how can I take a backup of the
reports that have already been deployed to the Report Server?
The way I understand it, with Reporting Services, reports are created
locally on a workstation using BIDS (VS) and then they are uploaded or
"deployed" to the Report Server (similar to uploading a file to a FTP server
right?). So to re-phrase my question, how can I take a solid backup of the
reports already on the ReportServer assuming I don't have any of the reports
locally in BIDS?
Is it just a matter of me saving the RDL report files and Data Sources? What
about the ReportServer database in SQL, should I be backing up that database
also?
Lastly, do you know where I can find official Microsoft documentation
specifically on how to backup and restore Reports created using SQL Reporting
Services? There must be some documentation out there, but I've been searching
all over KB and Google, but no luck finding anything concrete.
Thanks Mariano!!! If anyone else has some ideas, feel free to respond to
this post.
Post by Mariano GomezSQL Server 2005 and 2008 are provided with a scaled down version of Visual
Studio called Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS). If you have
been creating your reports in BIDS (or VS) and you have access to Visual
Source Safe (VSS), you can definately store your reports in a repository as
you would with any other source code. Of course, you will need to backup your
VSS repository on a regular basis.
Best regards,
--
MG.-
Mariano Gomez, MIS, MCP, PMP
Maximum Global Business, LLC
http://www.maximumglobalbusiness.com
The Dynamics GP Blogster at http://dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com
Post by GPLoveHateRelationshipCan anyone please tell me how do I take backups of reports created through
SQL Reporting Services (SSRS).
Does anyone have documentation on procedure of backing up reports created
with SQL Reporting Services? Also does anyone have steps on how to restore
reports from backup?
I have been assigned task to modify some reports using SQL Reporting
Services. It is my first time working with SSRS reports, so I want to be sure
to take a good backup of all the reports created so far using SSRS and I'd
like to be able to know how to restore a report from backup in case something
goes wrong.
Please help...thanks very much