Creating a backup device

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

Getting ready

We are going to create a backup device in this recipe. Here's the T-SQL equivalent of what we are trying to accomplish:

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

How to do it...

Let's list the steps required to create a backup device:

1. Open PowerShell ISE as administrator.

2. Import the SQLPS module as follows:

   #import SQL Server module
   Import-Module SQLPS -DisableNameChecking

3. Add the following script and run:

   $instanceName = "localhost"
   $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"
   
   #this line should be in a single line
   $backupdevice = New-Object Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.BackupDevice -ArgumentList $server, $backupfilename...