Create a Maintenance Plan In SQL Server 2008

A Maintenance plan is useful to perform routine database administration tasks like checking database integrity, performing index maintenance, updating database statistics, performing database backup etc.

In order to create a maintenance plan in SQL Server 2008, open SQL Server Management Studio > Object Explorer > Expand Server > Expand Management > Right-click Maintenance Plans and select Maintenance Plan Wizard > In the Maintenance Plan Wizard dialog box, click Next > type a name for the plan in the next window. You can also click on the 'Change' button to set the Job Schedule properties.

Click Next and select the Maintenance tasks that you want to perform

I have selected 'Clean Up History' and 'Back Up Database(Full)' . Click Next. You can set the maintenance task order here. The next screen depends on the maintenance tasks you have selected and are self explanatory. The last screen gives you an option for saving or distributing a report of the maintenance plan actions. The report contains details of the steps executed by the maintenance plan including any error information.

Finally, use the Complete the Wizard page to review the tasks included in the maintenance plan and to create the task.