---
title: Backup & loading hardware
description: To deploy your end-to-end data warehousing solution on Analytics Platform System (APS) with Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW), you need to create a plan for backing up the data warehouse and loading data. Use this guidance to acquire and configure backup and loading servers that will meet your business requirements.  
author: mzaman1 
ms.prod: sql
ms.technology: data-warehouse
ms.topic: conceptual
ms.date: 04/17/2018
ms.author: murshedz
ms.reviewer: martinle
ms.custom: seo-dt-2019
---

# Backup and loading hardware overview - Parallel Data Warehouse
To deploy your end-to-end data warehousing solution on Analytics Platform System (APS) with Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW), you need to create a plan for backing up the data warehouse and loading data. Use this guidance to acquire and configure backup and loading servers that will meet your business requirements.  
  
## Acquire and configure backup servers  
![Backup process](media/backup-process.png "Backup process")  
  
To backup a PDW database, you need one or more backup servers. You can use your own existing hardware or purchase new hardware. For more information, see [Acquire and Configure a Backup Server](acquire-and-configure-backup-server.md). These instructions include a [Backup server capacity planning worksheet](backup-capacity-planning-worksheet.md) to help you plan the right solution for backup.  
  
## Acquire and configure loading servers  
![Loading process](media/loading-process.png "Loading process")  
  
To load data, you need one or more loading servers. You can use your own existing ETL or other servers, or you can purchase new servers. For more information, see [Acquire and configure a loading server](acquire-and-configure-loading-server.md). These instructions include a [Loading server capacity planning worksheet](loading-server-capacity-planning-worksheet.md) to help you plan the right solution for loading.  
  
## See Also  
[Backup and restore overview](backup-and-restore-overview.md)  
[Load overview](load-overview.md)