SQL Server Backup and Recovery Learning Guide

You probably don't often face full-blown SQL Server catastrophes, but you must always be prepared to handle data deletions, data corruption, hardware crashes and application failures that may lead to a temporary system meltdown. Get help successfully backing up and recovering SQL Server data in this learning guide. It walks you through the basic steps of planning your backup and recovery procedures, then into testing, scheduling and running your backups and restores, and finally troubleshooting tips and tricks.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
   Basics
   Procedures
   Maintenance
   Troubleshooting
   Additional resources

Backup and recovery basics

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Tip: Selecting a SQL Server recovery model
Tip: SQL Server backup and restore, part I: The basics
Tip: SQL Server backup and restore, part II: Best practices
Tip: Worst practices for SQL Server backup and recovery
Tip: Backup and recovery enhancements in SQL Server 2005
New Tip: Restoring from previous SQL Server versions
New Tip: SQL Server 2005: When and how to use Database Snapshots
New Tip: Partial backup options in SQL Server 2005
New Tip: SAN considerations for your SQL Server environment
New Tip: Hardware considerations for simpler SQL Server failovers
NewTip: Database mirroring setup in SQL Server 2005

Backup and recovery procedures

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Checklist: Backing up SQL Server
Step-by-Step Guide: How to properly back up a SQL Server
Tip: How to back up and restore Analysis Services databases
Tip: How to store database backup media
Tip: Restore basics: How to restore SQL Server using Enterprise Manager
Tip: Restoring a database from another SQL Server
Tip: How to restore from a transaction log
New Tip: SQL Server restore how-tos
New T ip: Restore basics: How to restore using T-SQL commands
New Tip: Restoring an existing database on the same server
Expert response: Restoring a SQL Server 7.0 backup in SQL Server 2005
Expert response: Best approach for restoring MSDB on another server
Expert response: Back up and restore a database in different servers using DTS

Backup and recovery maintenance

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Checklist: Maximize SQL Server backup performance
Checklist: How to maintain an effective SQL Server DR strategy
Tip: Ten steps to faster backups
Tip: Managing backups for a large number of SQL Servers
Tip: SQL Server backups made easy using Maintenance Plans
Tip: Automate SQL Server restores to refresh test environments

Backup and recovery troubleshooting

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New Checklist: How to archive SQL Server backups
Tip: Beware of using external hard drives for offline backups
Tip: Don't use backup and restore to distribute database tools
Tip: Use caution when backing up or restoring a single table
Tip: Check large backup sets before a full restore
New Tip: Testing SQL Server restores
New Tip: Setting up and maintaining standby servers
New Tip: Configure RAID for maximum SQL Server I/O throughput
New Tip: Replication techniques in SQL Server
New Tip: Stored procedures: Who is running backups and restores
New Expert response: VB.NET timing out when backup changed to hourly
Expert response: Error backing up SQL Server 2000 database
Expert response: Backup fails when different users are using the network
Expert response: Restoring a database without a backup
Expert response: Restoring a database with only the .mfd file
Expert response: Peculiar errors while attempting to restore a database
Expert response: Connected users preventing restore

Additional resources

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Microsoft: SQL Server 2000 backup and restore
Products of the Year: Backup and restore tools take Gold and Bronze
Topics: Backup and restore news, tips and tutorials
Ask the Experts: Ask Edgewood Solutions' Greg Robidoux your backup and restore questions