How can I backup a remote SQL Server database to a local drive?

Question

I need to copy a database from a remote server to a local one. I tried to use SQL Server Management Studio, but it only backs up to a drive on the remote server.

Som

Answer 1

The answers above are just not correct. A SQL Script even with data is not a backup. A backup is a BAK file that contains the full database in its current structure including indizes.

Of course a BAK file containg the full backup with all data and indizes from a remote SQL Server database can be retrieved on a local system.

This can be done with commercial software, to directly save a backup BAK file to your local machine, for example This one will directly create a backup from a remote SQL db on your local machine.