title: sql server backup script
body: <p>I have made an attempt at writing a backup script for one of my very small sql server express 2008 database. 
  My requirements are to do a full backup every night, keep the last five backups. This is my attempt at writing one and would like to get feedback on whether i am doing it right? 
  Thanks for your assistance.</p>
  
  <pre><code>    declare @backupfilename nvarchar(100)
      set @backupfilename='c:\...location..\filename_'+convert(varchar(10),getdate(),112) + '.bak'
  
      BACKUP DATABASE [dbname] TO  DISK = @backupfilename 
      WITH  RETAINDAYS = 5, NOFORMAT, NOINIT,  NAME = N'Full Database Backup Name', NOSKIP,
      NOREWIND, NOUNLOAD,  STATS = 10
      GO
      declare @backupSetId as int
      select @backupSetId = position from msdb..backupset where database_name=N'dbname'
      and backup_set_id=(select max (backup_set_id) from msdb..backupset where 
      database_name=N'dbname' )
      if @backupSetId is null begin raiserror(N'Verify failed. Backup information for database  
      ''dbname'' not found.', 16, 1) end
      RESTORE VERIFYONLY FROM  DISK =@backupfilename  WITH  FILE = @backupSetId,  NOUNLOAD,  NOREWIND
      GO
  </code></pre>