Backing up a database on a shared MS SQL Server is painful. Sure, DTS can make pretty maps with lots of stripey, candy cane looking pipes. But has anyone ever been able to backup and restore a database on a shared hosting server? No. Don’t lie. You’ve never done it.

There’s finally an easy way to do remote backups against a SQL Server. Microsoft has released a utility entitled: SQL Server Hosted Toolkit. And, believe it or not, it actually works.

(Confused about the CodePlex site? It’s just “Microsoft’s open source project hosting web site.”)

Install the package and run the Database Publishing Wizard. Enter your credentials, select your database, and the utility will script the structure and data from a database to a text file. There’s also an option to move between databases, if you want to migrate between servers or clone a database.

Best of all, the utility can handle both 2005 and 2000 version databases. So it’s worth a look if you’re thinking about upgrading a database.