Introduction

Sometimes you face interesting challenges with unusual environment. One of my customer needed a automated and flexible backup solution. Said like that nothing very complex you will say. But if I mention that some databases were 60TB big with more than 30 filegroups and around 600 database data files each and moreover synchronized in an AlwayOn availability group, it is not the same story and you can easily imagine that working with standard backup strategy will not be viable. Therefore I was working on implementing solution using partial full, partial differential and read-only filegroups backups to minimize the time needed.
Well this post is not explaining the whole solution, but only a way to collect the last backup information of my databases, especially for the ones being in an AlwaysOn availability group and which filegroup states changed.
If you already worked with partial backups and read-only filegroups backups you know that the backup sequence is very important, but if you don’t you will quickly notice it if you need to restore, and you can easily understand why this last backup information is crucial. As the backups always have to run on the primary replica, you have to collect the information on all replicas if failover occurred and the primary changed to ensure that you execute the right backups at the right moment and not make unnecessary backups (remember the data volumes).

 

Explanation of the solution and code

Another thing to mentioned, because of security policies, it was forbidden to use linked server, but hopefully xp_CmdShell was possible. I wanted each replica to work independently, and needed a way to query the remote replicas to collect the last backup information on each SQL Server instances involved. Because backup history might be cleans, I need to store this information in local tables. I created 2 tables, one to stored last database backups information and the other to store last read-only filegroup backups information. Additionally I created 2 tables to collect temporarily the information coming from all replicas.

Creation of the last backup information tables:

--########################################################
--###Backup generator - backup last date info temporary table
--########################################################

USE [<YourDatabaseName>]
GO
/*
if OBJECT_ID('[dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases_temp]') is not null
	drop table [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases_temp]
*/
create table [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases_temp] (
	ServerName sysname not null,
	SqlInstanceName sysname  not null,
	SqlServerName sysname  not null,
	ServiceBrokerGuid uniqueidentifier not null,
	DatabaseCreationDate datetime  not null,
	DatabaseName sysname  not null,
	BackupType char(1) not null,
	LastBackupDate datetime  not null,
	LastBackupSize numeric(20,0) not null,
	is_primary bit null,
	insertdate datetime  not null
)
GO
create unique clustered index idx_bakgen_backuplastdt_databases_temp on [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases_temp](DatabaseCreationDate,DatabaseName,BackupType,ServerName,SqlInstanceName)



--########################################################
--###Backup generator - backup last date info
--########################################################

USE [<YourDatabaseName>]
GO
/*
if OBJECT_ID('[dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases]') is not null
	drop table [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases]
*/
create table [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases] (
	ServerName sysname  not null,
	SqlInstanceName sysname  not null,
	SqlServerName sysname  not null,
	ServiceBrokerGuid uniqueidentifier not null,
	DatabaseCreationDate datetime  not null,
	DatabaseName sysname  not null,
	BackupType char(1) not null,
	LastBackupDate datetime  not null,
	LastBackupSize numeric(20,0) not null,
	is_primary bit null,
	insertdate datetime  not null
)
GO
create unique clustered index idx_bakgen_backuplastdt_databases on [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases](DatabaseCreationDate,DatabaseName,BackupType,ServerName,SqlInstanceName)

I finally decided to work with a stored procedure calling a PowerShell scripts to remotely execute the queries on the replicas.
The stored procedure lists the existing replicas and collects the last database backup information, then the read-only filegroup backup information creating 2 different queries to execute locally on the server and store the data in the temp tables first. It will create similar queries, excluding the databases not involved in availability groups and execute them on the remote replicas using xp_CmdShell running PowerShell scripts. The PowerShell scripts are dynamically created using the TSQL queries generated. They used one function of the well-known DBATools. So you will have to install it first.
You will notice that in order to log the scripts generated are nicely formatted in order to read and debug them easier. But before executing you PowerShell script through xp_CmdShell you need to apply some string formatting like the 2 lines I added to avoid the execution to fail:

set @PSCmd = replace(replace(@PSCmd, nchar(13), N”), nchar(10), N’ ‘)
set @PSCmd = replace(@PSCmd, ‘>’, N’^>’)

Do not forget to escape some characters, otherwise the execution will fails, in my case omitting to escape the ‘>’ sign raise an “Access is denied” message in the output of the xp_CmdShell execution.

After that the code is comparing what has been collected in the temp tables with the final information and update information if needed.

Here is the complete code of the stored procedure:

use [<YourDatabaseName>]
if OBJECT_ID('dbo.bakgen_p_getbakinfo') is not null
            drop procedure dbo.bakgen_p_getbakinfo 
go

CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.bakgen_p_getbakinfo 
AS
/************************************
*   dbi-services SA, Switzerland    *
*   https://www.dbi-services.com        *
*************************************
    Group/Privileges..: DBA
    Script Name......:       bakgen_p_getbakinfo.sql
    Author...........:          Christophe Cosme
    Date.............:           2019-09-20
    Version..........:          SQL Server 2016 / 2017
    Description......:        Get the backup information locally but also on the replica involved

    Input parameters.: 

            Output parameter: 
                                               
    Called by........:         Stored Procdedure : [dbo].[bakgen_p_bakexe]
************************************************************************************************
    Historical
    Date        Version    Who    Whats                  Comments
    ----------  -------    ---    --------    -----------------------------------------------------
    2019-09-30  1.0        CHC    Creation
************************************************************************************************/ 
BEGIN 

BEGIN TRY
            
            set nocount on

            declare 
    @ErrorMessage  NVARCHAR(4000), 
    @ErrorSeverity INT, 
    @ErrorState    INT;

            declare @ModuleName sysname,
                                    @ProcName sysname,
                                    @InfoLog nvarchar(max),
                                    @Execute char(1)
                        
            set @ModuleName = 'BakGen'
            set @ProcName = OBJECT_NAME(@@PROCID)
            set @Execute = 'A'

            set @InfoLog = 'Retrieve backup information'
            execute dbo.bakgen_p_log       
                        @ModuleName = @ModuleName,
                        @ProcedureName = @ProcName,
                        @ExecuteMode = @Execute,
                        @LogType = 'INFO',
                        @DatabaseName = null,
                        @Information = @InfoLog,
                        @Script = null


            --###variable to store error message
            declare @errmsg varchar(4000)
            --###variable with the current datetime
            declare @cdt datetime = getdate()

            --###variabler to store the sql and powershell commands to execute
            declare @sqllocalDB nvarchar(4000),
                                    @sqllocalFG nvarchar(4000),
                                    @sqlremoteDB nvarchar(4000),
                                    @sqlremoteFG nvarchar(4000),
                                    @PSCmd nvarchar(4000)

            --###variable to store the local SQL server name
            declare @LocalSqlServerName sysname
            --###variable to store the list of replicas
            declare @TAgReplica table (AgReplicaName sysname)
            --###variable for the cursors
            declare @AgReplicaName sysname

            --###set the local SQL Server name
            set @LocalSqlServerName = lower(convert(sysname,serverproperty('ServerName')))
                        

            --############################################################################
            --### check if tables exist
            --############################################################################
            if object_id('[dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases_temp]') is null
            begin
                        set @errmsg = 'Get Backup info : table not found'
                        set @errmsg += '          table name = [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases_temp]' 
                        raiserror (@errmsg,11,1);
            end
            if object_id('[dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_fgreadonly_temp]') is null
            begin
                        set @errmsg = 'Get Backup info : table not found'
                        set @errmsg += '          table name = [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_fgreadonly_temp]' 
                        raiserror (@errmsg,11,1);                      
            end

            if object_id('[dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases]') is null
            begin
                        set @errmsg = 'Get Backup info : table not found'
                        set @errmsg += '          table name = [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases]' 
                        raiserror (@errmsg,11,1);
            end
            if object_id('[dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_fgreadonly]') is null
            begin
                        set @errmsg = 'Get Backup info : table not found'
                        set @errmsg += '          table name = [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_fgreadonly]' 
                        raiserror (@errmsg,11,1);                      
            end


            
            --############################################################################
            --### select the replicas involved adding first the local server
            --############################################################################
            insert into @TAgReplica (AgReplicaName ) select @LocalSqlServerName

            --###check if alwayson feature is activated
            if (serverproperty('IsHadrEnabled') = 1)
            begin
                        insert into @TAgReplica (AgReplicaName )
                        select lower(agr.replica_server_name) from sys.availability_replicas agr
                                    where agr.replica_server_name <> @LocalSqlServerName
            end


            --############################################################################
            --### construct the SQL command to execute on the local SQL Server
            --############################################################################
            set @sqllocalDB = ''
            set @sqllocalDB +='

            declare @Tbi table (
                        ServerName sysname,
                        SqlInstanceName sysname,
                        SqlServerName sysname,
                        ServiceBrokerGuid uniqueidentifier,
                        DatabaseCreationDate datetime,
                        DatabaseName sysname,
                        BackupType char(1),
                        LastBackupDate datetime,
                        is_primary bit null,
                        insertdate datetime       
            )


            insert into @Tbi (
                        [ServerName],
                        [SqlInstanceName],
                        [SqlServerName],
                        [ServiceBrokerGuid],
                        [DatabaseCreationDate],
                        [DatabaseName],
                        [BackupType],
                        [LastBackupDate],
                        [is_primary],
                        [insertdate])
            select  
                        lower(convert(sysname,serverproperty(''machinename''))) as ServerName,
                        lower(convert(sysname,serverproperty(''InstanceName''))) as SqlInstanceName,
                        lower(convert(sysname,serverproperty(''ServerName''))) as SqlServerName,
                        db.service_broker_guid as ServiceBrokerGuid,
                        db.create_date as DatabaseCreationDate,
                        bs.database_name as DatabaseName,
                        bs.type as BackupType,
                        max(bs.backup_finish_date) as LastBackupDate,
                        sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica(bs.database_name) as is_primary,
                        ''' + convert(varchar,@cdt,120) + '''   
            from msdb.dbo.backupset bs
                        inner join sys.databases db on db.name = bs.database_name
                        where bs.type in (''D'',''I'',''P'',''Q'')
                                    and bs.is_copy_only = 0
                                    and coalesce(sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica(bs.database_name),-1) in (-1,0,1)
                        group by
                                    db.service_broker_guid,
                                    db.create_date,
                                    bs.database_name,
                                    bs.type, 
                                    sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica(bs.database_name)

            insert into [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases_temp] (
                        [ServerName],
                        [SqlInstanceName],
                        [SqlServerName],
                        [ServiceBrokerGuid],
                        [DatabaseCreationDate],
                        [DatabaseName],
                        [BackupType],
                        [LastBackupDate],
                        [LastBackupSize],
                        [is_primary],
                        [insertdate])
            select  
                        t.[ServerName],
                        t.[SqlInstanceName],
                        t.[SqlServerName],
                        t.[ServiceBrokerGuid],
                        t.[DatabaseCreationDate],
                        t.[DatabaseName],
                        t.[BackupType],
                        t.[LastBackupDate],
                        bs.[backup_size],
                        t.[is_primary],
                        t.[insertdate]
            from @Tbi t
                        inner join msdb.dbo.backupset bs on 
                                    bs.backup_finish_date = t.LastBackupDate  
                                    and bs.database_name collate database_default = t.DatabaseName collate database_default
                                    and bs.type collate database_default = t.BackupType collate database_default
'




            set @sqllocalFG = ''
            set @sqllocalFG +='

            insert into [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_fgreadonly_temp]
           ([ServerName],
           [SqlInstanceName],
           [SqlServerName],
                           [ServiceBrokerGuid],
                           [DatabaseCreationDate],
           [DatabaseName],
           [BackupType],
           [filegroup_name],
           [file_logicalname],
           [filegroup_guid],
           [file_guid],
           [LastBackupDate],
                           [LastBackupReadOnlyLsn],
           [is_primary],
                           [insertdate])
            select  
                        lower(convert(sysname,serverproperty(''machinename''))) as ServerName,
                        lower(convert(sysname,serverproperty(''InstanceName''))) as SqlInstanceName,
                        lower(convert(sysname,serverproperty(''ServerName''))) as SqlServerName,
                        db.service_broker_guid as ServiceBrokerGuid,
                        db.create_date as DatabaseCreationDate,
                        bs.database_name as DatabaseName,
                        bs.type as BackupType,
                        bf.filegroup_name,
                        bf.logical_name as file_logicalname,
                        bf.filegroup_guid,
                        bf.file_guid,
                        max(bs.backup_finish_date) as LastBackupDate,
                        max(bf.read_only_lsn) as LastBackupReadOnlyLsn,
                        sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica(bs.database_name) as is_primary, 
                        ''' + convert(varchar,@cdt,120) + '''   
            from msdb.dbo.backupset bs
                                    inner join msdb.dbo.backupfile bf on  bf.backup_set_id = bs.backup_set_id
                                    inner join sys.databases db on db.name = bs.database_name 
                        where 
                                    bs.backup_finish_date >= db.create_date 
                                    and bs.type in (''F'')
                                    and bs.is_copy_only = 0
                                    and coalesce(sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica(bs.database_name),-1) in (-1,0,1)
                                    and bf.is_present = 1
                                    and bf.is_readonly = 1
                                    and bf.file_type = ''D''
                        group by
                                    db.service_broker_guid,
                                    db.create_date,
                                    bs.database_name, 
                                    bs.type,
                                    bf.filegroup_name,
                                    bf.logical_name, 
                                    bf.filegroup_guid,
                                    bf.file_guid,
                                    sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica(bs.database_name)
'


            
            --############################################################################
            --### construct the SQL command to execute on the remote SQL Server
            --############################################################################
            set @sqlremoteDB = ''
            set @sqlremoteDB +='

            declare @Tbi table (
                        ServerName sysname,
                        SqlInstanceName sysname,
                        SqlServerName sysname,
                        ServiceBrokerGuid uniqueidentifier,
                        DatabaseCreationDate datetime, 
                        DatabaseName sysname,
                        BackupType char(1),
                        LastBackupDate datetime,
                        is_primary bit null,
                        insertdate datetime       
            )

            insert into @Tbi (
                        [ServerName],
                        [SqlInstanceName],
                        [SqlServerName],
                        [ServiceBrokerGuid],
                        [DatabaseCreationDate],
                        [DatabaseName],
                        [BackupType],
                        [LastBackupDate],
                        [is_primary],
                        [insertdate])
            select  
                        lower(convert(sysname,serverproperty(''machinename''))) as ServerName,
                        lower(convert(sysname,serverproperty(''InstanceName''))) as SqlInstanceName,
                        lower(convert(sysname,serverproperty(''ServerName''))) as SqlServerName,
                        db.service_broker_guid as ServiceBrokerGuid,
                        db.create_date as DatabaseCreationDate,
                        bs.database_name as DatabaseName,
                        bs.type as BackupType,
                        max(bs.backup_finish_date) as LastBackupDate,
                        sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica(bs.database_name) as is_primary, 
                        ''' + convert(varchar,@cdt,120) + '''     
            from msdb.dbo.backupset bs
                        inner join sys.databases db on db.name = bs.database_name 
                        where bs.type in (''D'',''I'',''P'',''Q'')
                                    and bs.is_copy_only = 0
                                    and coalesce(sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica(bs.database_name),-1) in (0,1)
                        group by
                                    db.service_broker_guid,
                                    db.create_date,
                                    bs.database_name,
                                    bs.type,
                                    sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica(bs.database_name) 

            select  
                        t.[ServerName],
                        t.[SqlInstanceName],
                        t.[SqlServerName],
                        t.[ServiceBrokerGuid],
                        t.[DatabaseCreationDate],
                        t.[DatabaseName],
                        t.[BackupType],
                        t.[LastBackupDate],
                        bs.[backup_size],
                        t.[is_primary],
                        t.[insertdate]
            from @Tbi t
                        inner join msdb.dbo.backupset bs on 
                                    bs.backup_finish_date = t.LastBackupDate 
                                    and bs.database_name collate database_default = t.DatabaseName collate database_default
                                    and bs.type collate database_default = t.BackupType collate database_default

'

            set @sqlremoteFG = ''
            set @sqlremoteFG +='

            select  
                        lower(convert(sysname,serverproperty(''machinename''))) as ServerName,
                        lower(convert(sysname,serverproperty(''InstanceName''))) as SqlInstanceName,
                        lower(convert(sysname,serverproperty(''ServerName''))) as SqlServerName,
                        db.service_broker_guid as ServiceBrokerGuid,
                        db.create_date as DatabaseCreationDate,
                        bs.database_name as DatabaseName,
                        bs.type as BackupType,
                        bf.filegroup_name,
                        bf.logical_name as file_logicalname,
                        bf.filegroup_guid,
                        bf.file_guid,
                        max(bs.backup_finish_date) as LastBackupDate,
                        max(bf.read_only_lsn) as LastReadOnlyLsn,
                        sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica(bs.database_name) as is_primary, 
                        ''' + convert(varchar,@cdt,120) + '''   
            from msdb.dbo.backupset bs
                                    inner join msdb.dbo.backupfile bf on  bf.backup_set_id = bs.backup_set_id
                                    inner join sys.databases db on db.name = bs.database_name 
                        where 
                                    bs.backup_finish_date >= db.create_date 
                                    and bs.type in (''F'')
                                    and bs.is_copy_only = 0
                                    and coalesce(sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica(bs.database_name),-1) in (0,1)
                                    and bf.is_present = 1
                                    and bf.is_readonly = 1
                                    and bf.file_type = ''D''
                        group by
                                    db.service_broker_guid,
                                    db.create_date, 
                                    bs.database_name, 
                                    bs.type,
                                    bf.filegroup_name,
                                    bf.logical_name, 
                                    bf.filegroup_guid,
                                    bf.file_guid,
                                    sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica(bs.database_name) 
'

            --############################################################################
            --### delete all records in the backup info tables
            --############################################################################
            delete from [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases_temp]
            delete from [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_fgreadonly_temp]

            --############################################################################
            --### loop for all replicas involved
            --############################################################################
            declare cur_replica cursor
            static local forward_only
            for 
                        select AgReplicaName
                        from @TAgReplica
                 
            open cur_replica
            fetch next from cur_replica into 
                        @AgReplicaName                    


            while @@fetch_status = 0
            begin 
                                    
                        if @LocalSqlServerName = @AgReplicaName
                        begin 

                                    set @InfoLog = 'Get database backup information on local SQL Server instance ' + QUOTENAME(@AgReplicaName)
                                    execute dbo.bakgen_p_log       
                                               @ModuleName = @ModuleName,
                                               @ProcedureName = @ProcName,
                                                @ExecuteMode = @Execute,
                                               @LogType = 'INFO',
                                               @DatabaseName = null,
                                               @Information = @InfoLog,
                                               @Script = @sqllocalDB
                                    execute sp_executesql @sqllocalDB

                                    set @InfoLog = 'Get read-only filegroup backup information on local SQL Server instance ' + QUOTENAME(@AgReplicaName)
                                    execute dbo.bakgen_p_log       
                                               @ModuleName = @ModuleName,
                                               @ProcedureName = @ProcName,
                                               @ExecuteMode = @Execute,
                                               @LogType = 'INFO',
                                               @DatabaseName = null,
                                               @Information = @InfoLog,
                                               @Script = @sqllocalFG
                                    execute sp_executesql @sqllocalFG

                        end 
                        else
                        begin
                                    --############################################################################
                                    --### construct the PowerShell command to execute on the remote SQL Server
                                    --############################################################################
                                    set @PSCmd  = ''
                                    set @PSCmd += 'PowerShell.exe '
                                    set @PSCmd += '-Command "'
                                    set @PSCmd += '$qrydb = "' + @sqlremoteDB + '"; ' 
                                    set @PSCmd += '$qryfg = "' + @sqlremoteFG + '"; ' 
                                    set @PSCmd += '$rdb = Invoke-DbaQuery -SqlInstance ' + @AgReplicaName + ' -Query $qrydb; '
                                    set @PSCmd += '$rfg = Invoke-DbaQuery -SqlInstance ' + @AgReplicaName + ' -Query $qryfg; '
                                    set @PSCmd += 'if ($rdb -ne $null) { '
                                    set @PSCmd += 'Write-DbaDbTableData -SqlInstance ' + @LocalSqlServerName + ' -Database ' + db_name() + ' -Schema dbo -Table bakgen_backuplastdt_databases_temp -InputObject $rdb;'
                                    set @PSCmd += '} '
                                    set @PSCmd += 'if ($rfg -ne $null) { '
                                    set @PSCmd += 'Write-DbaDbTableData -SqlInstance ' + @LocalSqlServerName + ' -Database ' + db_name() + ' -Schema dbo -Table bakgen_backuplastdt_fgreadonly_temp -InputObject $rfg;'
                                    set @PSCmd += '} '
                                    set @PSCmd += '"'

                                    set @InfoLog = 'Get backup information on replica SQL Server instance ' + QUOTENAME(@AgReplicaName) + ' executing master..xp_cmdshell PowerShell script'
                                    execute dbo.bakgen_p_log       
                                               @ModuleName = @ModuleName,
                                               @ProcedureName = @ProcName,
                                               @ExecuteMode = @Execute,
                                               @LogType = 'INFO',
                                               @DatabaseName = null,
                                               @Information = @InfoLog,
                                               @Script = @PSCmd

                                    --###remove CRLF for xp_cmdshell and PowerShell 
                                    set @PSCmd = replace(replace(@PSCmd, nchar(13), N''), nchar(10), N' ')
                                    set @PSCmd = replace(@PSCmd, '>', N'^>')
                                    --###Execute the powershell command on the replica and store the result in the temporary tables
                                    exec master..xp_cmdshell @PSCmd
                        end
                        
                        fetch next from cur_replica into 
                                    @AgReplicaName                    


            end
            close cur_replica
            deallocate cur_replica


            --############################################################################
            --### Update and insert backup information in final tables
            --############################################################################

            --###Update first the database creation date with the local ones
            Update t
                        set t.DatabaseCreationDate = db.create_date
            from [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases_temp] t
                        inner join sys.databases db 
                                    on db.name collate database_default = t.DatabaseName collate database_default 
                                               and db.service_broker_guid = t.ServiceBrokerGuid

            Update t
                        set t.DatabaseCreationDate = db.create_date
            from [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_fgreadonly_temp] t
                        inner join sys.databases db 
                                    on db.name collate database_default = t.DatabaseName collate database_default 
                                               and db.service_broker_guid = t.ServiceBrokerGuid




            BEGIN TRY

                        begin transaction 

                        delete f
                                    from [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases_temp] t
                                               inner join [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases] f 
                                                           on f.DatabaseCreationDate = t.DatabaseCreationDate
                                                                       and f.DatabaseName = t.DatabaseName 
                                                                       and f.BackupType = t.BackupType 
                                                                       and f.ServerName = t.ServerName 
                                                                       and t.SqlInstanceName = f.SqlInstanceName
                                               where f.LastBackupDate < t.LastBackupDate

                        Insert into [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases] (
                                    ServerName,
                                    SqlInstanceName,
                                    SqlServerName,
                                    DatabaseCreationDate,
                                    DatabaseName,
                                    BackupType,
                                    LastBackupDate,
                                    LastBackupSize,
                                    is_primary,
                                    insertdate 
                        )
                        select 
                                    t.ServerName,
                                    t.SqlInstanceName,
                                    t.SqlServerName,
                                    t.DatabaseCreationDate,
                                    t.DatabaseName,
                                    t.BackupType,
                                    t.LastBackupDate,
                                    t.LastBackupSize,
                                    t.is_primary,
                                    t.insertdate 
                                    from [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases_temp] t
                                               where not exists (select 1 from [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_databases] f 
                                                                                                                      where f.DatabaseName = t.DatabaseName 
                                                                                                                                  and f.BackupType = t.BackupType 
                                                                                                                                  and f.ServerName = t.ServerName 
                                                                                                                                  and t.SqlInstanceName = f.SqlInstanceName)
                                    
                        
                        commit

                        begin transaction

                        delete f
                                    from [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_fgreadonly_temp] t
                                               inner join [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_fgreadonly] f 
                                                           on f.DatabaseName = t.DatabaseName 
                                                                       and f.BackupType = t.BackupType 
                                                                       and f.filegroup_name = t.filegroup_name
                                                                       and f.ServerName = t.ServerName 
                                                                       and f.SqlInstanceName = t.SqlInstanceName
                                               where f.LastBackupDate < t.LastBackupDate


                        Insert into [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_fgreadonly] (
                                    ServerName,     
                                    SqlInstanceName,
                                    SqlServerName,           
                                    DatabaseCreationDate,
                                    DatabaseName,            
                                    BackupType,
                                    filegroup_name,
                                    file_logicalname,          
                                    filegroup_guid, 
                                    file_guid,          
                                    LastBackupDate,          
                                    LastBackupReadOnlyLsn,
                                    is_primary,
                                    insertdate                     
                        )
                        select 
                                    t.ServerName,   
                                    t.SqlInstanceName,
                                    t.SqlServerName,
                                    t.DatabaseCreationDate,
                                    t.DatabaseName,          
                                    t.BackupType,
                                    t.filegroup_name,
                                    t.file_logicalname,        
                                    t.filegroup_guid,           
                                    t.file_guid,        
                                    t.LastBackupDate,        
                                    t.LastBackupReadOnlyLsn,
                                    t.is_primary,
                                    t.insertdate                   
                        from [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_fgreadonly_temp] t                                        
                                    where not exists (
                                               select 1 from  [dbo].[bakgen_backuplastdt_fgreadonly] f 
                                               where f.DatabaseName = t.DatabaseName 
                                                                       and f.BackupType = t.BackupType 
                                                                       and f.filegroup_name = t.filegroup_name
                                                                       and f.ServerName = t.ServerName 
                                                                       and t.SqlInstanceName = f.SqlInstanceName)

                        
                        commit
            END TRY
            BEGIN CATCH
                SELECT 
                                    @ErrorMessage = ERROR_MESSAGE(), 
                                    @ErrorSeverity = ERROR_SEVERITY(), 
                                    @ErrorState = ERROR_STATE();

                        IF @@TRANCOUNT > 0
                                    ROLLBACK
                        
                        raiserror(@ErrorMessage, @ErrorSeverity, @ErrorState);

            END CATCH



RETURN;

END TRY
BEGIN CATCH
    SELECT 
        @ErrorMessage = ERROR_MESSAGE(), 
        @ErrorSeverity = ERROR_SEVERITY(), 
        @ErrorState = ERROR_STATE();

            set @InfoLog = '@ErrorState = ' + convert(nvarchar, @ErrorState) + '/@ErrorSeverity = ' + convert(nvarchar, @ErrorSeverity) + '/@ErrorMessage = ' + @ErrorMessage
            execute dbo.bakgen_p_log       
                        @ModuleName = @ModuleName,
                        @ProcedureName = @ProcName,
                        @ExecuteMode = @Execute,
                        @LogType = 'ERROR',
                        @DatabaseName = null,
                        @Information = @InfoLog,
                        @Script = null

    raiserror(@ErrorMessage, @ErrorSeverity, @ErrorState);
END CATCH;

RETURN
END

Other Objects needed

As mentioned above I used the DBATools Write-DbaDbTableData function, so need to install it before being able to run the above stored procedure.

I share also the 2 other objects used in the above stored procedure, but of course you can adapt the code to your needs

Creation of the log table:

--########################################################
--###Backup generator - logs
--########################################################

USE [<YourDatabaseName>]
GO
/*
if OBJECT_ID('[dbo].[bakgen_logs]') is not null
	drop table [dbo].[bakgen_logs]
*/
create table [dbo].[bakgen_logs] (
	id bigint identity(1,1) not null,
	LogDate datetime,
	SqlServerName sysname,
	ModuleName sysname,
	ProcedureName sysname,
	ExecuteMode char(1),
	LogType nvarchar(50),
	DatabaseName sysname null,
	Information nvarchar(max) null,
	Scripts nvarchar(max) null,
CONSTRAINT [PK_bakgen_logs] PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED 
(
	[id] ASC
)WITH (PAD_INDEX = OFF, STATISTICS_NORECOMPUTE = OFF, IGNORE_DUP_KEY = OFF, ALLOW_ROW_LOCKS = ON, ALLOW_PAGE_LOCKS = ON) ON [PRIMARY]
)
GO

Creation of the stored procedure to write the logs:

use [<YourDatabaseName>]
if OBJECT_ID('dbo.bakgen_p_log') is not null
	drop procedure dbo.bakgen_p_log 
go

CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.bakgen_p_log 
(
	@ModuleName sysname,
	@ProcedureName sysname,
	@ExecuteMode char(1),
	@LogType nvarchar(50),
	@DatabaseName sysname = null,
	@Information nvarchar(max) =  null,
	@Script nvarchar(max)  = null
)

AS
/************************************
*   dbi-services SA, Switzerland    *
*   https://www.dbi-services.com        *
*************************************
    Group/Privileges..: DBA
    Script Name......:	bakgen_p_log.sql
    Author...........:	Christophe Cosme
    Date.............:	2019-09-20
    Version..........:	SQL Server 2016 / 2017
    Description......:	write information to the log table to keep trace of the step executed

    Input parameters.: 

	Output parameter: 
				
************************************************************************************************
    Historical
    Date        Version    Who    Whats		Comments
    ----------  -------    ---    --------	-----------------------------------------------------
    2019-10-14  1.0        CHC    Creation
************************************************************************************************/ 
BEGIN 

BEGIN TRY
	
	--###variable to store error message
	declare @errmsg varchar(4000)

	if OBJECT_ID('[dbo].[bakgen_logs]') is null
	begin
		set @errmsg = 'bakgen_p_log : table not found - be sure the table exists'
		set @errmsg += '	table name = [dbo].[bakgen_logs]' 
		raiserror (@errmsg,11,1);
	end		

	insert into [dbo].[bakgen_logs] (
		LogDate,
		SqlServerName,
		ModuleName,
		ProcedureName,
		ExecuteMode,
		LogType,
		DatabaseName,
		Information,
		Scripts
		)
	values(
		getdate(),
		convert(sysname,SERVERPROPERTY('servername')),
		@ModuleName,
		@ProcedureName,
		@ExecuteMode,
		@LogType,
		@DatabaseName,
		@Information,
		@Script
		)


RETURN;

END TRY
BEGIN CATCH
	declare 
    @ErrorMessage  NVARCHAR(4000), 
    @ErrorSeverity INT, 
    @ErrorState    INT;
    SELECT 
        @ErrorMessage = ERROR_MESSAGE(), 
        @ErrorSeverity = ERROR_SEVERITY(), 
        @ErrorState = ERROR_STATE();
 
    -- return the error inside the CATCH block
    raiserror(@ErrorMessage, @ErrorSeverity, @ErrorState);
END CATCH;

RETURN
END

Conclusion

Triggering PowerShell from a stored procedure did the trick for my special case and is very practical. But to find the right syntax to make the script running through xp_CmdShell was not so trivial. I admit to spend sometimes to figure out what was causing the issue.
But I definitely enjoyed the solution for retrieving information outside the local SQL Server instance.