sql difference between bak and bkf files

.bkf is an extention used by Windows Native backup tool (NTBACKUP or Windows Server backup)

BAK is an extention used by SQL Native Backup tool.

SQL can be backed up by both, but with Windows backup it would cold backup of .mdf and .ldf (and .ndf if any) in cold backup extention would be .bkf  (as a flatfile)

SQL can be backed up by both, but with Windows backup it would cold backup of .mdf and .ldf (and .ndf if any) in cold backup extention would be .bkf  (as a flatfile)

i dint understand this.plz explain

If you shutdown the databases, for Windows Native backup utility .mdf .ldf and.ndf are just huge flatfiles. hence it can be backed up. Backup data would be in .bkf format (native extention of NT/windows server backup)

Ok.So you are talking about the windows native tool backup.For this also SQL services needs to be sopped?

what if we dont shut down the databases?

mdf .ldf and.ndf what is the use of these backed up as flat files?

backing up databases in flatfile is not a recommedation, You may use SQL native utility to backup them online .

If you don't shutdown database you cannot backup them online withh NT backup tool. Backup application must have app aware API to be integrated to capture online data

Hope this clears doubts

So there are 3 ways to backup sql

1. sql agent
2. sql dump
3. shutdown database manually and then take the backup via netbackup(flat files)

Is it?