*Please note this is not a supported backup method.  We STRONGLY discourage anyone from making changes to their installed SQL instance! This guide is only here for reference if you decide you wish to attempt this process on your own. We only recommend and support backing up to a local drive. If you wish to backup to a network drive, you may follow these steps on your own and at your own risk. If it continues to fail, you will need to revert to using a local drive. 

In some cases you may have a need to backup your database to a network drive. Please follow the steps below to configure your SQL server service to access a network drive. 

Backing up to a network drive using this method below, should allow you to run the backup from any computer running Kennel Connection. Again, this is not a supported method and if it fails to work, we will be unable to assist. 

WARNING: Altering an installed SQL instance may make break the connection from the KC software to the database. Software Connection LLC does not recommend or support any changes to the SQL server instance and any changes made to this instance are at your own risk and are not covered under KC software support. Please make sure to backup your database prior to altering any SQL components. 

Part 1. Configuring your SQL Server service to use a different log on account: 

When you create a network/mapped drive, it uses the Windows account that you're logged into to access that specific folder on another computer. By default SQL server service is installed to use the local "System" account. Since odds are you created the network drive using your regular Windows account that you normally login with, you'll need to tell the SQL service to run and login using that same account. 

Press Windows key + S to open search and search for Services.msc. Choose that from the search results once it shows. 

Press the letter S to jump to the "S" section and look for your SQL Server Instance. 

Right click on it and choose properties. Then click the "Log On" tab. You should see it set to use Local System account like this:

Choose the "This account" option and then click "Browse". Then click the "Advanced" button.

Click "Find Now" to retrieve a list of Windows users on that computer. Then find your account that you normally login with and select it. (You can expand the NAME column to see more details.)

I've removed some detail from this display as it is an active account.

Click OK once you have selected your correct account. You'll see the name/account show in the "select user" window. Click OK. 

Now, you must enter your Windows password associated with the account you just selected. This is the password you enter when you start your computer and login to Windows with the above account. Enter it 2x and click OK. 

You'll receive this warning:

Now, right mouse click on your SQL server and choose RESTART. This will restart the service and now it will be using the account you selected above to run the SQL server. Since this is the same account you used to create the network/mapped drive, it should have access to that drive/folder now. 

Part 2. Backing up to the network drive. 

From inside of Kennel Connection desktop, click Utilities, Backup & Upload. 

Change the folder path to your network drive. NOTE that you cannot use an IP address. In this example shown here, my computer that contains that drive/folder is called HP-WEBSERVER and I want to backup to the data folder which is inside of a download folder. 

Once you have the correct path entered, click "Backup". If you get a successful message, you can open the folder to view your backup. If you get an error, something is configured incorrectly. You can go to the machine that hosts this drive/folder and make sure EVERYONE has full permissions to it. If that does not resolve the issue, you'll want to revert your changes and use a local disk to backup to. 

Please note that prior to backing up, you should attempt to open your network drive from Windows File Explorer using the same path. If it fails to open, it will fail to backup. You'll need to address network/permission issues and get it to open in File Explorer before KC will backup to it. 

Again, Please note this is not a supported backup method. We only recommend and support backing up to a local drive. If you wish to backup to a network drive, you may follow these steps on your own. If it continues to fail, you will need to revert to using a local drive.