Backup and restore

Esat Erkec

Forecast SQL backup size

October 23, 2018 by

This article will cover the process of analyzing and predicting/forecasting the size of a SQL backup as a means to better handle/manage retention of backups.

One of the main database management tenets is “Do not lose your data”. According to this; a database administrator incurs huge responsibilities to protect data. Under these circumstances, taking database backups and archiving SQL backup files is a key task for database administrators. In data protection strategy, taking database backups and archiving backup file processes play the leading role. Especially, backup planning is very significant for disaster recovery scenarios because backup file will be used for restore operation after any failure or data corruption. For this reason, every dba must generate recovery strategies for possible disaster scenarios and ensure that these scenarios can be solvable. At the same time, these backup files must be tested for data integrity; thus process provides to evaluate the recovery time and integrity of backup files. In this Backup and Restore (or Recovery) strategies for SQL Server database article you can find all details about backup and restore strategies.

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Prashanth Jayaram

SQL Server database migrations with zero data loss and zero downtime

August 15, 2018 by

The growing importance and complexity of data migration, in an era of exploding data volumes and ever-changing business requirements, means that old approaches will no longer get the job done. We are in a world where everything needs to run instantly. Every Database Administrator or Developer would have definitely heard about database migrations with zero downtime and with zero data loss.

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Prashanth Jayaram

SQL interview questions on database backups, restores and recovery – Part I

July 30, 2018 by

So far, we’ve discussed a lot about database backup-and-restore process. The backup database command is an online database copy of the SQL Server database and restore database command gives an option to test the consistency and integrity of the backup file.

As we all know, the backup database command bound with many database options. Indeed, it facilitates the execution of specific backup database command that meets the business requirement.

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Prashanth Jayaram

Database Backup and Restore process in SQL Server – series intro

July 26, 2018 by

It’s a time to turn the corner from “DBA” to “DBA specialist”. This in-depth guide explores the importance of database backup-and-restore features and skills you’ll need to build good backup-and-restore strategies using the available tools and techniques. Along the way, you’ll pick up some interesting insights and most of the concepts of database backup and restore procedures.

Ready to dive-deep into Backup-and-Restore procedures? Let’s go!

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Prashanth Jayaram

SQL interview questions on database backups, restores and recovery – Part II

July 25, 2018 by

In this article, we’ll walk through, some of the refined list of SQL Server backup-and-restore, (or recovery) interview Q&A. Also, it includes the high-level overview and links of the “stairway to backup-and-restore series” articles for detailed information. As you read through the lists of Q&A, you’ll learn most of the features and concepts of Backup-and-Restore operations.

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Prashanth Jayaram

Backup and Restore operations with SQL Server 2017 on Docker containers using SQL Operations Studio

July 19, 2018 by

In this 18th article of the series, we will discuss the concepts of database backup-and-restore of SQL Server Docker containers using SQL Ops Studio (SOS). Before proceeding, you need to have Docker engine installed and SQL Ops studio configured on your host machine.

This article covers the following topics:

  1. Overview of SQL Operations Studio (SOS)
  2. How to use SQL Ops Studio integrated terminal
  3. Definition of Docker containers
  4. Step by step instructions to initiate backup-and-restore of SQL Server 2017 Docker containers using the SQL Ops Studio interface
  5. And more…
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Robert Seles

Multiple methods for scheduling a SQL Server backup automatically

July 17, 2018 by

SQL Server backups are an essential part of every good disaster recovery strategy. That is the good. But setting up such backups to run effortlessly, is the goal. In this article, we’ll review the types of backups, recommended practices and three different methods for automatically setting up SQL Server backups on a schedule. Note: these solutions can also be used in combination with one another

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Prashanth Jayaram

In-Memory Optimized database backup and restore in SQL Server

July 6, 2018 by

A SQL Server backup and restore strategy is an essential process to safeguard and protect critical data. The vital role of any DBA is to minimize the risk of data loss and preserve data modifications at regular intervals of time. A well-planned and well-tested backup-and-restore strategy always help to protect the organization with no data loss, or at least a minimum, from the many varieties of system and database failure. As such, it is recommended to understand the importance and implication of the backup-and-restore strategy.

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Prashanth Jayaram

SQL Server Database Backup and Restore reports

June 14, 2018 by

In the previous articles, we discussed several ways of taking backup and testing the restore process to ensure the integrity of the backup file.

In this article, we’re going to discuss the importance of the database backup reporting. This kind of reporting will be designed to eliminate any unnecessary risk that may arise with the safety and security of information. This is the reason, the high-level report; Daily Health Check report will be generated and sent to the SME or to the DBA responsible for IT Infra management.

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Prashanth Jayaram

SQL Server Database Backup and Restore operations using the Cloud

May 29, 2018 by

This article discusses the concept of SQL Server backup and the various components required to use the Microsoft Azure Blob storage service as a target for the backup. As we all know, disk and tapes were the default destinations of choice until the evolution of the cloud platform. In addition to this, now we can expand the native functionality of SQL Server backup to cloud storage; the Windows Azure Blob storage. This functionality was added first in SQL Server 2012. In general, backup and restore functionality to and from the cloud are similar to using disk or tape, with very few differences.

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Prashanth Jayaram

Backup Linux SQL Server databases using PowerShell and Windows task scheduler

May 22, 2018 by

This article is an in-depth guide on how PowerShell can be used to maintain and manage SQL backup on Linux and Windows machines.

Here’s an outline of what this article is all about:

  • Introduction
  • Technical specifications
  • How to load SQL Server modules on Windows machine
  • Security – Credential Management
  • The objectives of Backup and Restore
  • Library Linkage
  • How SQL Server 2017 backup feature is used on Linux
  • And more …
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Prashanth Jayaram

How to perform a page level restore in SQL Server

May 18, 2018 by

In this article in our stairway series on SQL Server backup and restore, we shall discuss the importance of understanding the internals of the page restoration for a database administrator. Most of the time, performing a page-level restore suffices for database availability. A good backup strategy is a key to recovery or restoration, and SQL Server provides us with an option to fix database pages at a granular level. Performing a page level restore in SQL Server is a clever option wherein the restoration of the entire VLDB database backup is not required.

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