Backup Database Programmatically Using C#

Here, we will learn about taking the backup of database programmatically using c#. We will take the backup of a single database in our tutorial.

Prerequisite

Basic knowledge of C#
Basic knowledge of ASP.NET MVC

Create a new project in ASP.NET MVC and open the HomeController and replace the code with it.

public class HomeController : Controller
    {
        public ActionResult Index() => View();

        public async Task<JsonResult> GenerateBackupFile()
        {
            try
            {
                await Task.Run(() =>
                {
                    string dbConnectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["DefaultConnection"].ConnectionString;
                    string backupFolderName = ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["BackUpFolder"].ToString();
                    if (!Directory.Exists(backupFolderName))
                        Directory.CreateDirectory(backupFolderName);
                    SqlConnectionStringBuilder sqlConnectionStringBuilder = new SqlConnectionStringBuilder(dbConnectionString);
                    var backupFileName = $"{backupFolderName}{sqlConnectionStringBuilder.InitialCatalog}-{DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd")}.bak";
                    if (System.IO.File.Exists(backupFileName))
                        System.IO.File.Delete(backupFileName);
                    using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(sqlConnectionStringBuilder.ConnectionString))
                    {
                        string backupQuery = $"BACKUP DATABASE {sqlConnectionStringBuilder.InitialCatalog} TO DISK='{backupFileName}'";
                        using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(backupQuery, connection))
                        {
                            connection.Open();
                            command.ExecuteNonQuery();
                        }
                    }
                });
                return Json(true, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                return Json(false, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);
            }
        }
    }

Open the Index.cshtml and replace the code in it.

@{
    ViewBag.Title = "Home Page";
}

<button class="btn btn-success" id="btnBeginBackup" style="margin-top:60px">Take Backup</button>

<script>
    $(document).on('click', '#btnBeginBackup', function () {
        showLoader();
        $.ajax({
            url: '/Home/GenerateBackupFile',
            type: 'GET',
            success: function (res) {
                hideLoader();
                if (res)
                    toastr.success("Backup taken successfully");
                else
                    toastr.error("Backup failed");
            },
            error: function (err) {
                hideLoader();
                toastr.error("Something went wrong. Please contact administrator");
            }
        });
    });
</script>

Finally, at last, open the _Layout.cshtml and replace the code in it.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <meta charset="utf-8" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>@ViewBag.Title - My ASP.NET Application</title>
    @Styles.Render("~/Content/css")
    @Scripts.Render("~/bundles/modernizr")
    @Scripts.Render("~/bundles/jquery")
    @Scripts.Render("~/bundles/bootstrap")
    <link href="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/toastr.js/latest/css/toastr.min.css" rel="stylesheet">
    <script type="text/javascript" src="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/toastr.js/latest/js/toastr.min.js"></script>
    <style>
        #loading {
            position: fixed;
            top: -50%;
            left: -50%;
            width: 200%;
            height: 200%;
            background: rgba(241, 241, 241, 0.48);
            z-index: 2000;
            overflow: hidden;
        }

            #loading img {
                position: absolute;
                top: 0;
                left: 0;
                right: 0;
                bottom: 0;
                margin: auto;
            }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <div id="loading">
        <img src="~/Content/ajax-loader.gif" />
    </div>
    <div class="navbar navbar-inverse navbar-fixed-top">
        <div class="container">
            <div class="navbar-header">
                <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle" data-toggle="collapse" data-target=".navbar-collapse">
                    <span class="icon-bar"></span>
                    <span class="icon-bar"></span>
                    <span class="icon-bar"></span>
                </button>
                @Html.ActionLink("Database Backup Demo", "Index", "Home", new { area = "" }, new { @class = "navbar-brand" })
            </div>
            <div class="navbar-collapse collapse">
                <ul class="nav navbar-nav">
                    <li>@Html.ActionLink("Home", "Index", "Home")</li>
                </ul>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="container body-content">
        @RenderBody()
        <hr />
        <footer>
            <p>&copy; @DateTime.Now.Year - My ASP.NET Application</p>
        </footer>
    </div>

    @RenderSection("scripts", required: false)
</body>
</html>
<script>
    function showLoader() {
        $('#loading').show();
    }
    function hideLoader() {
        $('#loading').fadeOut();
    }
    $(document).ready(function () {
        hideLoader();
    });
</script>

Output:

Faisal Pathan

Faisal Pathan is a founder of TheCodeHubs, .NET Project Manager/Team Leader, and C# Corner MVP. He has extensive experience with designing and developing enterprise-scale applications. He has good skills in ASP.NET C#, ASP.NET Core, ASP.NET MVC, AngularJS, Angular, React, NodeJS, Amazon S3, Web API, EPPlus, Amazon MWS, eBay Integration, SQL, Entity Framework, JavaScript, eCommerce Integration like Walmart, Tanga, Newegg, Group-on Store, etc. and Windows services.