Does anyone have a backup strategy for SQL Azure databases?

I'm using SQL Azure on a project and it works great. The problem is that the usual backup features do not exist. I have exported the database a couple of times using SQLAzureMW ( http://sqlazuremw.开发者_开发问答codeplex.com/ ) but this tool is now choking trying to download the database data with bcp. In any case, it's not as nice a solution as SQL Server backups.

Is anyone aware of a commercial or open source tool, or other technique, for making reliable backups of SQL Azure databases? This is really a showstopper.

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Starting with update 4, SQL Azure now supports database copies. You can make a copy of your database, kept in Azure, and use that to retrieve data in the event of an accidental deletion or schema bugaboo:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff951624.aspx

It's still up to you to get that database off Azure and onto your own local SQL Server, though, but at least you've got a mechanism for making a point-in-time copy.

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Microsoft takes care of the backups for you. There is no reason to back up SQL Azure databases yourself.

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Yes, we had the same problem and couldn't find any good/simple solutions, so we cobbled together a solution using Red Gate: http://mooneyblog.mmdbsolutions.com/index.php/2011/01/11/simple-database-backups-with-sql-azure

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SQL Azure will support PIT (Point in time) backup/restore (mainly restore) later this year (2011), CTP in summer. There is some (little) preliminary info here info here.