Brad’s Sure Guide to SQL Server Maintenance Plans- P47: SQL Server has a reputation as being a simple database application to install, configure, and maintain. This is a little misleading. SQL Server is a powerful relational database that can handle the needs of the largest organizations and, as such, its proper maintenance almost certainly requires the attention of an experienced DBA. | Chapter 18 Subplans and Precedence Figure The schedule for Subplan_i has been set. The next task is to create a second subplan then add a second instance of the Back Up Database task to the new subplan configure the task to perform transaction log backups and then to schedule the subplan appropriately. To add a new subplan click on the Add Subplan icon in the Designer menu bar to bring up the Subplan Properties screen shown in Figure . Figure The Subplan Properties screen can use all default values if you wish. Here you can enter your own custom name for the subplan a useful description and even add the schedule. However let s keep things simple and simply accept the default values and click OK. The Maintenance Plan Designer screen should now list the newly-created subplan with its default name of Subplan_2 as shown in Figure . 231 Chapter 18 Subplans and Precedence Figure Two subplans are now part of this Maintenance Plan. Click on Subplan_2 to bring that subplan s design surface into focus drag and drop another Back Up Database task onto it and then configure it to perform transaction log backups. When done the screen should look as shown in Figure . Figure The Backup Database Task has been added to Subplan_2 and configured. 232 Chapter 18 Subplans and Precedence Once the Back Up Database task has been added to the design surface of Subplan_2 and configured you can schedule it as required. In this case 1 schedule the subplan to run hourly every day. The final designer screen looks as shown in Figure . Figure This Maintenance Plan although oversimplified is ready to run. As you can see adding subplans to a Maintenance Plan and setting the schedule for each subplan is not a difficult task. However as 1 mentioned in the introduction to the chapter my advice is to keep the number of subplans to a minimum. Instead place as many tasks as you can in a single subplan and use precedence links to carefully control their execution. .
