Backup & Recovery

Recovery Models Full Recovery Model Bulk-Logged Recovery Model All activities that affects the database are logged. Bulk-Logged Recovery Model Some actions are logged as having occurred but individual rows affected are not logged. Simple Recovery Model The inactive portion of the log is truncated every time a checkpoint is issued.

Full Recovery Model All activities that affects the database are logged. The transaction log contains a record of all the modifications to the database.

Bulk-Logged Recovery Model Minimal logging Some actions are logged as having occurred but individual rows affected are not logged. During next BACKUP LOG event the affected physical extents are copied to the log backup.

Simple Recovery Model The inactive portion of the log is truncated every time a checkpoint is issued. Transaction log cannot be backed up and used for data recovery since it does not have a complete record of all the transactions that have modified the database.

Backup Types Full Backup Differential Backup File/Filegroup Backup File/Filegroup with Differential Transaction Log Backup Partial Backup Copy Only Backup

Full Backup Backups up all the data in the database and records all database file locations. SQL Server logs the beginning of a Full database backup in the transaction log and then records all modifications made to the database for the duration of the backup in the transaction log. The portion of the transaction log that occurred during the backup is saved to the backup media.

Differential Backup Backups on the data that has changed since the last Full backup. Includes the portion of the transaction log that contains database modifications that occurred during the backup.

File/Filegroup Backup Backup files and filegroups individually.

File/Filegroup with Differential Like Differential Only available if database is in Full or Bulk-Logged recovery model. Also available if filegroup is marked as Read Only and database is in Simple Model.

Transaction Log Backup Available in Full or Bulk-Logged Recovery Models. Three forms: Pure Log Backup Bulk Log Backup Tail Log Backup

Partial Backup Consists of the Primary filegroup, Read Write filegroups, and any Read only filegroup specified. Idea is to separate filegroups that can change for filegroups that cannot change.

Copy Only Backup Creates a backup without affecting the chain of backups required to restore a database. They are non-logged backups that can be used outside the maintenance envrionment.

Backup Options Backup Stripe Mirrored Backup Compressed Backup

Backup Strategies Full Backup Only Bull Backup with Differential Full Backup with Transaction Log Full and Differential Backup with Transaction Log File and Filegroup Backup Filegroup with Differential Partial Backup

Restoring Databases A three phase process Data Copy Redo Phase Data copied Redo Phase Committed transactions are restored from the log Undo Phase Uncommitted transactions are rolled back from the log

Database Restore Preparation Isolate the database by placing it in SINGLE_USER mode (if it is accessible). Backup up the tail of the transaction log if in Full or Bulk-Logged recovery model. Gather information about all the backups that are required to restore the database to the most recent state.