Creating a backup device

This recipe shows how you can create a backup device using PowerShell.

Getting ready

We are going to create a backup device in this recipe. The equivalent T-SQL of what we are trying to accomplish is:

EXEC master.dbo.sp_addumpdevice @devtype = N'disk',
    @logicalname = N'Full Backups',
    @physicalname = N'C:\Backup\backupfile.bak'

How to do it...

1. Open the PowerShell console by going to Start | Accessories | Windows PowerShell | Windows PowerShell ISE.

2. Import the SQLPS module as follows:

   #import SQL Server module
   Import-Module SQLPS -DisableNameChecking

3. Add the following script and run:

   $instanceName = "KERRIGAN"
   $server = New-Object -TypeName Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Server -ArgumentList $instanceName
   #this file will be created by PowerShell/SMO
   $backupfilename = "Full Backups"
   $backupfile = "C:\Backup\backupfile.bak"
   
   $backupdevice = New-Object Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.BackupDevice($server,$backupfilename)
   #BackupDeviceType values are:
   #CDRom, Disk...