LiteSpeed® for SQL Server® 9.0
LiteSpeed® for SQL Server® 9.0
Release Notes
December 2024
These release notes provide information about the LiteSpeed for SQL Server release.
Topics:
About this release
LiteSpeed for SQL Server, or LiteSpeed, is a fast and flexible backup and recovery solution that allows DBAs to easily maintain complete control over the backup and recovery process. Its low-impact, high-performance compression and encryption technology enables users to reduce storage costs and protect data, while improving both backup and disaster recovery times. With the improved compression and LiteSpeed's Fast Compression technology, LiteSpeed for SQL Server can further reduce disk space and backup time up to another 85% over traditional, compressed full backup solutions. The result is a unique backup and recovery approach, unmatched in flexibility, that greatly reduces backup times, creates a significantly smaller storage footprint, and maintains a high level of recoverability.
- LiteSpeed 9.0 is a major release,
New features in LiteSpeed 9.0:
- Override default LiteSpeed settings on remote instances is added in the Remote Deploy Configuration Wizard. This feature allows users to manually change the .ini file with preferred settings and deploy that version of LiteSpeedSettings.ini file. It is located within the Installation Directory step of the Remote Deploy Configuration Wizard where users can select the checkbox for this option which will show the option for choosing the Path to settings file (*.ini).
- A Retry button is added to allow the user to attempt a retry during the LiteSpeed Log Shipping plan creation or role reversal process. When the error occurs during the script execution of the Create LiteSpeed Log Shipping Plan Wizard or Change Role LiteSpeed Plan Wizard, the Next button is replaced with a Retry button. Clicking Retry initiates another attempt of the Execute Script page, starting from the failed step. By allowing the user to retry a failed step, this feature bypasses the need to revert or recreate the entire plan. If the error repeats, the Retry button remains available for subsequent attempts.
- Automated Restore is improved in its functionality by being able to locate all replicas of an Always On group despite the target server’s status. Previously, Automated Restore only queried the target server, leading to an incomplete list of source servers if the target server was removed from the availability group. With this enhancement, both the source and target servers are checked during automated restore, ensuring all replicas being recognized.
- The option to configure the number of threads for databases is added in the Backup Template. A new Maintenance Plan Settings (MP Settings) page is added to the Backup Template, featuring numeric controls for specifying the number of threads for databases in all subplans, or for full/differential, and transaction log backups. This functionality is available during both Backup Template creation and editing. These settings are only applied when deploying the Backup Template as a maintenance plan and not as an agent job.
- A new option Do not apply for Transaction Log Backup is added below the existing Copy Only Backup checkbox on the Options page of the Backup Template Wizard. This option addresses a need to determine whether transaction log backups should be copy-only or regular. When unchecked, transaction log backups will be copy only. When checked, transaction log backups will be regular, while other backups remain copy only.
- An option to deploy native Regular backup with Quick Assist Technology (QAT) compression is added to Backup Wizard. Backups can be compressed using either the qat_deflate or ms_xpress algorithms. To use this functionality, Intel QAT drivers must first be set up alongside SQL Server 2022. Then the option to create compressed backups with QAT compression algorithms becomes visible within the Backup Wizard when creating a native regular backup for SQL Server 2022.
- Disaster Recovery option is added to the Automated Restore Wizard. It allows users to automatically recreate databases on a specified server after a crash. The target instance and databases for restoration can be selected, with LiteSpeed identifying the most recent backups. The feature supports filtering source instances, choosing backup types, and point-in-time restores. There are options to overwrite the existing database, select recovery states, and provide a password for encrypted backups.
- Support for connecting to Azure Blob cloud service using a Shared Access Signature (SAS) token is now available in Cloud Account. This enhancement allows users to input a SAS token generated on the Azure platform. Users can now choose between Access Key or SAS token authentication when adding or editing Azure Blob accounts.
For more details please visit the following links:
The following is a list of enhancements implemented in LiteSpeed 9.0.
Table 1: General enhancements
| Override default LiteSpeed settings on the remote instance is added under the LiteSpeed Installation Directory step in the Remote Deploy Configuration Wizard |
LS-2385 |
| A Retry button is added when a log shipping plan creation or role reversal process fails under the Execute Script in the Log Shipping Plan Wizard |
LS-2458 |
| Automated restore can locate all replicas/nodes of an always-on group despite the status of the target server |
LS-2198 |
| MP Settings (Maintenance Plan Settings) is added in the Backup Template Wizard to set the Number of threads for databases |
LS-2336 |
| Do not apply for Transaction Log Backup is added to the Options of the Backup Template Wizard under the Copy Only Backup option |
LS-2482 |
| An option to create database backup for SQL Server 2022 using QAT compression is added in Backup Wizard when selecting Regular backup for native backups |
LS-2498 |
| Disaster Recovery option is added as Restore Type in the Automated Restore Wizard, allowing users to automatically recreate databases after a crash |
LS-2499 |
| Support for Azure connections using a SAS token is added in the Cloud Accounts, offering an alternative to the Access Key method |
LS-2497 |
The following is a list of features that are no longer supported starting with LiteSpeed 9.0.
Table 2: Features that are no longer supported
|
The QuestKey is deprecated in newer versions of LiteSpeed.
Visit https://support.quest.com/contact-us/licensing to acquire a new license key |
LS-2427 |
| Extended stored procedure xp_memory_size marked as deprecated. It will be removed from the product with version 9.0. |
LS-1406, LS-1762 |
