SQL Server Backup and Recovery

Aiming for zero: Techniques for lossless SQL Server data protection

No doubt you have SQL Server data protection plans in place. But how much data do you stand to lose should disaster strike? Expert Don Jones offers pointers on how to make that number zero.  Feature

Three third-party tools for SQL Server you need to have

SQL Server is packaged with an array of management tools, but it’s not complete. Several third-party tools for SQL Server can help with monitoring, backup and capacity management.  The 'Reluctant' DBA

SQL Server backup and restore management tutorial

From system failure to catastrophic disaster, this guide features the backup and recovery know-how that can mean the difference between life and death for your SQL Server database.  LEARNING GUIDE

Acronis Recovery for SQL Server

Acronis Recovery for SQL Server ensures that critical database functions can be restored or backed up with minimal obstruction to SQL Server performance.  New Product Showcase

Top 7 SQL Server backup and restore tips of 2007

Optimize SQL Server backup and restore methods natively with these best practices. We've tallied our top seven most viewed tips of 2007 on the topic of backup and restore. Whether you're looking for commands to a speedier restore, steps to take befor...  The Year in Review

SQL Server backup and restore school

In this SQL Server backup and recovery school you'll get overall best practices, learn commands for backup and restore functions and be introduced to SQL Server 2005 features – all via webcasts and podcasts.  Webcast and podcast serie

FAQ: Top 5 SQL Server backup and recovery problems

Backup and recovery in SQL Server is another one of those 'do or die' areas. We've tallied your page hits and compiled a Top 5 list of frequently asked questions on the topic, so you'd have a quick reference.  FAQ

Checklist: How to archive SQL Server backups

Be able to recover quickly from an archived backup. Edgewood Solutions' Greg Robidoux explains why and how to archive and recover SQL Server database backups.  Checklist

VB.NET timing out when backup changed to hourly

After changing transaction log backups from daily to hourly, one ITKnowledge Exchange member noticed that VB.NET was timing out. Find out what advice his peers have to offer.  ITKnowledge Exchange Memb

Letter #2: Managers need to better communicate and train

IT managers must better communicate and train end users to make database troubleshooting easier for the DBA, according to this letter to the editor.  Letters to the Editor

Big data a big deal for SQL Server 2012, users say

SQL Server 2012 is here, and the Apache Hadoop integration is making the biggest wave, according to some users.  News | 11 Apr 2012

BMC buys into continuous data protection

IT management firm BMC partnered with disaster recovery startup XOsoft to sell continuous data protection (CDP) technology as part of BMC's backup software. This is the latest in a string of recent partnerships by major systems vendors around CDP, bu...  Article | 16 Feb 2006

TimeData

TimeSpring's TimeData continuous data protection (CDP) software allows SQL Server 2005 Customer Technology Preview (CTP) users to test and migrate real-time production data from SQL Server 2000 without shutting down, slowing down or exporting data. T...  News | 23 Nov 2005

Step-by-Step Guide: How to properly back up a SQL Server

Edgewood Solutions' Greg Robidoux offers a three-part guide for putting together a SQL Server backup process -- planning, testing and implementation.  News | 09 Nov 2005

Step 5: Use constraints and relationships to keep out bad data

Learn why you must use SQL Server's CHECK constraints to enforce constraints on inserted data.  Article | 13 May 2005

Step 1: Back up, optimize and enable safety features

Step 1 of our data integrity guides explains how to develop your data integrity strategy.  Article | 13 May 2005

Step 2: Obtain service packs and prepare for deployment

Learn how to obtain service packs and prepare for deployment in this SQL Server patch management guide.  Article | 08 Apr 2005

Step 4: Obtain hotfixes and prepare for deployment

Learn how to obtain the latest hotfixes for your SQL Server products.  Article | 08 Apr 2005

DBAs make plans for unknown disasters

Some DBAs are finding that they aren't as prepared for a flood, fire or power outage in their data center as they thought they were. Careful contingency planning begins with the entire IT team, according to a DBA expert.  Article | 09 Feb 2005

Two new utilities for SQL Server released

Russian software maker Point International has released a pair of utilities for Microsoft's SQL Server. Attach DB is designed for simple administrator tasks with command line arguments. FindInSQL finds string occurrence in SQL Server objects. Both ut...  News | 21 Dec 2004

Splitting SQL Server backups to multiple files

Splitting database backups helps save space and run your SQL Server backups more efficiently. Get tips for executing this from Ashish Kumar Mehta.  Tip

Fault tolerance and backups and snapshots, oh, yes

They are vital tools all DBAs depend on. But what are the best products on the market these days? Expert Don Jones lets us know some of his favorites.  Tip

No-risk SQL Server upgrade for SSRS no problem

Worried about mishaps during your next SQL Server upgrade? What if you could perform an upgrade that is virtually risk free? It is possible, database architect Roman Rehak writes.  Tip

In data warehousing, cost-benefit’s the issue with backup compression

Backup compression is well known to carry the benefit of cost savings to SQL Server shops, but organizations using SQL Server data warehouses may have a few more variables to consider.  Tip

Finding your way around SQL Server data preservation

Need to know what a table looked like before changes were changes were made? There are several tools for SQL Server data preservation -- SQL Server change tracking and SQL Server database mirroring among them -- each with its own uses and limitations...  Tip

Backing up SharePoint-related SQL Server databases

Find out exactly which database backup and recovery models you'll need for a full backup and restore of a SharePoint-associated SQL Server database.  Tip

Log shipping: Four tips to maintain RTO and RPO with SQL Server

It's not uncommon for DBAs to be lulled into a false sense of security by log shipping, without realizing the negative effects it could have on disaster recovery.  Tip

Achieving high availability and disaster recovery with SharePoint databases

Failover clustering and database mirroring are two useful SQL Server technologies that offer automatic failover within MOSS-related databases.  Tip

How SQL Server recovery models impact your SharePoint databases

SharePoint administrators can minimize data loss by selecting the appropriate SQL Server recovery model. But which model is right for your enterprise?  Tip

How to 'do' SQL Server disaster recovery

Understanding how backups really work in SQL Server can save you a lot of time and trouble. Learn where most SQL Server newbies get lost during the backup and recovery process.  Tip

Solving SQL VSS writer problems during backup

Backup expert Brien Posey explains how to solve common SQL VSS writer problems users can face during SQL database backups.  Answer

Storing and searching for image files in SQL Server

Learn about working with image files in SQL Server, including advice on using queries to locate them, in this expert answer.  Ask the Expert

Retrieve deleted tables in SQL Server

Have SQL Server tables been deleted from an application? Find how to retrieve the tables via Lumigent's Log Explorer.  Ask the Expert

Set up a SQL Server disaster recovery site

Consider database hardware needs when setting up a disaster recovery site for SQL Server. Get these considerations and server failover methods.  Ask the Expert

Restoring a SQL Server database with a corrupt data file

Find out how to restore data from a corrupt database.  Ask the Expert

Restoring from msdb with only .mdf and .ldf files

I am working on an issue with an undocumented application, and the info is/was on a SS7 database, that was not maintained properly.

How can I restore jobs from msdb when all I have is either a backup of it (but don't want to restore it to another...  Ask the Expert

Extended stored procedure to back up databases

Does SQL Server 2005 (any edition) come with an extended stored procedure, allowing you to back up databases? If so, what is it called? I've looked all over the internet but only found third party ones.  Ask the Expert

Back up stored procedure only

Is it possible to back up the stored procedure only? If so, how?  Ask the Expert

Change tempdb from 'C' drive

Is it possible to change tempdb from the 'C' drive, to any other drives?  Ask the Expert

Restoring database without .mdf file

I have the .ldf file but don't have the .mdf file of my database. Can I restore my database from the existing .ldf file?  Ask the Expert

database replication

Database replication is the frequent electronic copying of data from one computer or server to another so that all users share the same level of information... (Continued)  Definition

rollback

A rollback is the undoing of partly completed database changes when a database transaction is determined to have failed.  Definition

Solving SQL VSS writer problems during backup

Backup expert Brien Posey explains how to solve common SQL VSS writer problems users can face during SQL database backups.  Answer

Splitting SQL Server backups to multiple files

Splitting database backups helps save space and run your SQL Server backups more efficiently. Get tips for executing this from Ashish Kumar Mehta.  Tip

Fault tolerance and backups and snapshots, oh, yes

They are vital tools all DBAs depend on. But what are the best products on the market these days? Expert Don Jones lets us know some of his favorites.  Tip

database replication

Database replication is the frequent electronic copying of data from one computer or server to another so that all users share the same level of information... (Continued)  Definition

Big data a big deal for SQL Server 2012, users say

SQL Server 2012 is here, and the Apache Hadoop integration is making the biggest wave, according to some users.  News

No-risk SQL Server upgrade for SSRS no problem

Worried about mishaps during your next SQL Server upgrade? What if you could perform an upgrade that is virtually risk free? It is possible, database architect Roman Rehak writes.  Tip

In data warehousing, cost-benefit’s the issue with backup compression

Backup compression is well known to carry the benefit of cost savings to SQL Server shops, but organizations using SQL Server data warehouses may have a few more variables to consider.  Tip

Aiming for zero: Techniques for lossless SQL Server data protection

No doubt you have SQL Server data protection plans in place. But how much data do you stand to lose should disaster strike? Expert Don Jones offers pointers on how to make that number zero.  Feature

Three third-party tools for SQL Server you need to have

SQL Server is packaged with an array of management tools, but it’s not complete. Several third-party tools for SQL Server can help with monitoring, backup and capacity management.  The 'Reluctant' DBA

Finding your way around SQL Server data preservation

Need to know what a table looked like before changes were changes were made? There are several tools for SQL Server data preservation -- SQL Server change tracking and SQL Server database mirroring among them -- each with its own uses and limitations...  Tip