Avoid Overlapping Tasks 83 Task Frequency 84 Task Scheduling in the Wizard 84 Job Schedule Properties 86 Scheduling Individual Maintenance Tasks 92 Summary 92 Chapter 5: Check Database Integrity Task 93 An Overview of the Check Database Integrity Task 93 When and How Often to Run Integrity Checks 96 Configuring the Task 96 The "Include indexes" Option 97 Creating the Job Schedule 98 Summary 100 Chapter 6: Shrink Database Task 101 Sizing Your Database Files 101 Problems with the Shrink Database Task 102 The Right Way to Shrink a Database 103 Summary 103 Chapter 7: Rebuild Index Task 104 An Overview of the Rebuild Index Task 104 When and How Often to Rebuild Indexes 106 Tracking Index Fragmentation 107 Oine Index Maintenance 107 Online Index Maintenance 108 Scripting Index Rebuilds 109 Configuring the Rebuild Index Task 109 Database Selection 109 Free space options 115 Advanced options 117 Creating the Job Schedule 118 Summary 119 Chapter 8: Reorganize Index Task 120 An Overview of the Reorganize Index Task 120 Reorganize Versus Rebuild 121 When and How Often to Reorganize Indexes 123 Configuring the Reorganize Index Task 123 Database Selection 124 Compact large objects 125 Creating the Job Schedule 126 Summary 126 Chapter 9: Update Statistics Task 127 Overview of the Update Statistics Task 127 When and How Often to Update Statistics 129 Configuring the Update Statistics Task 131 Database Selection 132 The Update Option 132 The Scan type Option 133 Creating the Job Schedule 134 Summary 134 Chapter 10: Execute SQL Server Agent Job Task 135 An Overview of the Execute SQL Server Agent Job Task 135 When and How Often to Run the Custom Job 137 Creating SQL Server Agent Jobs 137 Configuring the Execute SQL Server Agent Job Task 138 Selecting the Job 138 Creating the Job Schedule 139 Summary 140 Chapter 11: History Cleanup Task 141 An Overview of the History Cleanup Task 141 When and How Often to Clean Up MSDB 143 Configuring the History Cleanup Task 143 Selecting the Historical Data to Delete 143 Creating the Job Schedule 144 Summary 145 Chapter 12: Back Up Database (Full) Task 146 Backup Strategy – a Brief Primer 146 An Overview of the Backup Database (Full) task 149 When and How Often to Perform Full Backups 150 Configuring the Back Up Database (Full) Task 151 Database and Backup Component Selection 151 Backup File Storage 155 Verify backup integrity 157 Set backup compression 158 Creating the Job Schedule 159 Summary 161 Chapter 13: Back Up Database (Differential) Task 162 An Overview of the Back Up Database (Differential) Task 162 When and How Often to Perform Differential Backups 163 Configuring the Back Up Database (Differential) Task 164 Database Selection and Backup Component 164 Creating the Job Schedule 166 Summary 167 Chapter 14: Back Up Database (Transaction Log) Task 168 An Overview of the Backup Database (Transaction Log) Task 169 When and How Often to Back Up Transaction Logs 171 Configuring the Backup Database (Transaction Log) Task 171 Backing Up the Tail of the Log 173 Creating the Job Schedule 174 Summary 174 Chapter 15: Maintenance Cleanup Task 175 An Overview of the Maintenance Cleanup Task 175 When and How Often to Clean Up Your Backup and Report Files 178 Configuring the Maintenance Cleanup Task 178 Specifying the type of file to delete 180 Specifying File Location 180 Delete files older than… 181 Creating the Job Schedule 183 Summary 183 Chapter 16: Introduction to the Maintenance Plan Designer 184 Features Unique to the Maintenance Plan Designer 185 Starting the Maintenance Plan Designer 186 Exploring the Maintenance Plan Designer 188 Object Explorer 189 Maintenance Task Toolbox 189 Subplans and the Design Surface 190 Designer Menu bar 196 Summary 202 Chapter 17: Configuring Maintenance Tasks Using the Designer 203 A Note of Drag-and-Drop Caution 203 Check Database Integrity Task 204 Rebuild Index Task 208 Reorganize Index Task 209 Update Statistics Task 210 Shrink Database Task 211 Execute SQL Server Agent Job Task 211 . SQL Server Agent Job Task 135 An Overview of the Execute SQL Server Agent Job Task 135 When and How Often to Run the Custom Job 137 Creating SQL Server Agent Jobs 137 Configuring the Execute SQL. 183 Chapter 16: Introduction to the Maintenance Plan Designer 184 Features Unique to the Maintenance Plan Designer 185 Starting the Maintenance Plan Designer 186 Exploring the Maintenance Plan Designer. Overview of the Maintenance Cleanup Task 175 When and How Often to Clean Up Your Backup and Report Files 178 Configuring the Maintenance Cleanup Task 178 Specifying the type of file to delete 180 Specifying