---
title: "View or configure the backup compression algorithm Server Configuration Option | Microsoft Docs"
description: 'Find out about the "backup compression algorithm" option. See how it determines the algorithm to use for backup compression, and learn how to set it.'
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "08/24/2022"
ms.prod: sql
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.technology: configuration
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "backup compression algorithm [SQL Server], backup compression algorithm Option"
author: MikeRayMSFT
ms.author: mikeray
---

# View or configure the backup compression algorithm Server Configuration option

[!INCLUDE [SQL Server 2022](../../includes/applies-to-version/sqlserver2022.md)]

This topic describes how to view or configure the **backup compression algorithm** server configuration option in [!INCLUDE[ssnoversion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] with [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)]. The **backup compression algorithm** option determines which algorithm to use to set the backup.

The `backup compression algorithm` configuration option is required for you to implement [integrated acceleration and offloading solutions](../../relational-databases/integrated-acceleration/use-integrated-acceleration-and-offloading.md).

##  <a name="BeforeYouBegin"></a> Before You Begin  
  
###  <a name="Restrictions"></a> Limitations and Restrictions  
  
- [!INCLUDE [sssql22-md](../../includes/sssql22-md.md)].
- Requires Windows Operating System
  
###  <a name="Security"></a> Security  
  
####  <a name="Permissions"></a> Permissions  

 Execute permissions on **sp_configure** with no parameters or with only the first parameter are granted to all users by default. To execute **sp_configure** with both parameters to change a configuration option or to run the RECONFIGURE statement, a user must be granted the ALTER SETTINGS server-level permission. The ALTER SETTINGS permission is implicitly held by the **sysadmin** and **serveradmin** fixed server roles.  

## To view the backup compression algorithm option  
  
1.  Connect to the [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../../includes/ssde-md.md)].  
  
2.  From the Standard bar, click **New Query**.  
  
3.  Copy and paste the following example into the query window and click **Execute**. This example queries the [sys.configurations](../../relational-databases/system-catalog-views/sys-configurations-transact-sql.md) catalog view to determine the value for `backup compression algorithm`. A value of 0 means that backup compression is off, and a value of 1 means that SQL Server will use the default backup compression algorithm (MS_XPRESS). A value of 2, means that SQL Server will use Intel&reg QAT backup compression algorithm.  
  
```sql  
SELECT value   
FROM sys.configurations   
WHERE name = 'backup compression algorithm' ;  
GO  
```  
 
## To configure the backup compression default option  
  
1. Connect to the [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../../includes/ssde-md.md)].  
  
2. From the Standard bar, click **New Query**.  
  
3. Copy and paste the following example into the query window and click **Execute**. This example shows how to use [sp_configure](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sp-configure-transact-sql.md) to configure the server instance to use Intel&reg; QAT as the default compression algorithm:

```sql
EXEC sp_configure 'backup compression algorithm', 2;   
RECONFIGURE; 
```

To change the default compression algorithm back to the default, use the following script:

```sql
EXEC sp_configure 'backup compression algorithm', 1;   
RECONFIGURE; 
```

For more information, see [Server Configuration Options &#40;SQL Server&#41;](../../database-engine/configure-windows/server-configuration-options-sql-server.md).  
  
## See also  

 [BACKUP &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../t-sql/statements/backup-transact-sql.md)   
 [Server Configuration Options &#40;SQL Server&#41;](../../database-engine/configure-windows/server-configuration-options-sql-server.md)   
 [RECONFIGURE &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../t-sql/language-elements/reconfigure-transact-sql.md)   
 [sp_configure &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sp-configure-transact-sql.md)   
 [Backup Overview &#40;SQL Server&#41;](../../relational-databases/backup-restore/backup-overview-sql-server.md)