Fabric Cost and Fabric SQL Database backup

[PriyaJha]

MSFT states that in Fabric cost is based on compute and storage separately.

I have a fabric capacity created in Azure which would include the compute capacity that I pay month on month.

where does MSFT charge for the storage aspect? Is it within the Azure subscription or at tenant level? ANd what is the cost associated with storage and where to check the overall storage?

Also in Fabric SQL Database, MSFT states : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric/database/sql/backup

that full backups are created weekly and retention period of the backup is 7 days. So does it mean it overrides the full backup every time a new full backup is created? So at any point there is only 1 full backup available? 

And does the fabric SQL database create transaction log files even if there are no transactions involved during that time period? 

[NandanHegde]

@PriyaJha  :

https://medium.com/microsoftazure/microsoft-fabric-costs-azure-cost-management-and-reservations-for-...

this gives detailed explanation on analyzing the cost of fabric in Azure Portal step by step

[v-echaithra]

Hi @PriyaJha ,

Thanks for the update.

Fabric capacity SKUs (F2/F4/FT1) are billed under Microsoft Power Platform in Azure Cost Management.

Go to Cost Management + Billing > Filter:
Service Name = Microsoft Power Platform
Or Resource Type = Microsoft.Fabric/capacities

Yes, even if there are no changes, a log backup is still created with a minimal file, to maintain the restore chain.
log backups are created every 10 minutes, even during inactivity. This ensures a continuous restore chain.

Full backups don’t need to be retained beyond 7 days , but restore points within that 7 day window are always guaranteed.
Microsoft uses backup chains internally, which contains:

1 active full backup (within last 7 days)
Differential backups (every 12 hours)
Transaction log backups (every 10 min)

For example: If today is June 17, and a full backup exists from June 16, that full is the base for any restore from June 16 onward.If you want to restore to June 13 @ 10 AM, and you’re within the 7-day retention window:

The June 9 full backup is still retained until June 16, So the restore engine uses:

Full from June 9
Differential from June 13 @ 12 AM
Log backups from 12 AM → 10 AM

After June 16, June 9's full may be discarded, and you’ll no longer be able to restore to June 13.

You can only restore to a point-in-time within the last 7 days, regardless of how many full backups are available.
The backup system manages all files required to make that possible.
So yes, only 1 full backup is retained at a time, but you can restore to any point within the last 7 days, because all required logs and differentials are retained to support that.

If my response resolved your query, kindly mark it as the Accepted Solution to assist others. Additionally, I would be grateful for a 'Kudos' if you found my response helpful.

Best regards,
Chaithra E.

[NandanHegde]

@v-echaithra  :

Now even I am confused 🙂

In the above scenario, the last full backup is as of 16th June. So the 9th June full backup is now deleted.

So as of 17th June, dp you mean to say that we cannot go back beyond 16th June because the latest full backup is as of 16th June only?

because as per MSFT, one can always go back to 7 days from the Getdate. But as per your statement, as of 17th June; I cannot go back to 7 days and can only go back till 16th

[nilendraFabric]

Hi @PriyaJha 

Try this

Azure Portal → Cost Management + Billing Filter by “Service Name = Microsoft.OneLake”

Fabric Maintains multiple backup sets to enable point-in-time restore within retention window

Weekly full backups + differential every 12hrs + log backups every ~10min

so for 7 days rentention period:
At any time, you’ll have 1 full + 14 differential + ~1008 log backups (theoretical maximum)

https://blog.fabric.microsoft.com/en-US/blog/announcing-backup-storage-billing-for-sql-database-in-m...

[PriyaJha]

Hi @nilendraFabric,

Thanks for your reply.

As per your mentioned path - Azure Portal → Cost Management + Billing Filter by “Service Name = Microsoft.OneLake”, i checked and below is the screenshot-

As per this, only Storage cost is visible then where we can check cost associated with Fabric capacity?

Now, w.r.t backup -

1. Does the fabric SQL database create transaction log files even if there are no transactions involved during that time period? 

2. Also, as per your statement, there should be only 1 full backup and as per MSFT you can only restore back uptill 7 days prior. So now my confusion is -

Imagine the full backup got created on 16th June, so the full backup created on 9th June got deleted/overriden. So, in case if i want to restore backup as of 13th June; as the 9th June backup was deleted how would we be able to restore the database to that point in time?

Example--

I have full backup as of 16th June

16th 12 PM full backup

every 12 hrs differential backup

17th 12 AM differential backup

every 10 min logs backup

............. 12:10 AM
............. 12:20 AM

17th 12 PM differential backup

18th 12 AM

If i want to have backup of 18th June 10 AM - i would have to take 16th June full backup, 17th 12 PM differential backups and all 10 mins logs backup uptill 18th 10 AM.

Similarly, if i want to have backup of 13th June 10 AM, how can i get that?

[nilendraFabric]

Hi @PriyaJha 

bottom line is You can only restore to a point in time within the last 7 days, based on the most recent full backup and its associated differentials and logs. Once a full backup and its related backups are deleted (after 7 days), restoration to points before that backup is not possible.

Yes during inactivity top logs will he created

Try "Microsoft Fabric" in the filter for Fabric capacity costing