Express Agent Editor's Review

'Express Agent' is a solution for scheduling and executing backup jobs for Microsoft SQL Server Express. It features full event logging capability and it can even notify you by e-mail. If you want to use the e-mail notifications feature, you must configure the program to use a valid SMTP server.

This software package includes two applications. The first application is used to configure SMTP server settings and the Windows service, which is installed during setup. This service is used for interacting with the SQL Server. The second application allows you to configure tasks that are run by the SQL Server. It allows you to define schedules for each task, to export and import job definition files (lists of tasks), to setup backup devices, and to define operators.

The backup devices are files that contain the database backups. You can add, edit, or remove operators by using the program's configuration dialogs. You can enter an e-mail address for each operator, if you want to receive notifications about the program's status.

Each task you define has at least one step that has to be performed when executing that task. The steps contain instructions or sets of instructions that must be executed by the SQL Server. Express Agent gives you access to a relatively simple wizard, which can be used to configure backup jobs for your databases.

Pluses: Express Agent can write notifications in the Windows application event log.

Drawbacks / flaws: When I tried to change the font in the "Job Step" editor, the program displayed an error and then closed itself.

In conclusion: If you need to backup your SQL databases regularly, Express Agent is a good choice.

version reviewed: 2.1.3