Category: Backups/Recovery

Updated Default Settings for Azure SQL Managed Instance Databases

A common saying about Azure is that it is always changing. This is a very accurate statement, want proof, just take a look at Microsoft Build 2020. Microsoft is always improving the environment by adding new features, tweaking interfaces, tweaking features, and much more. I’ve been working with Managed Instance since private preview and just […]

SQL Server High Availability and Disaster Recovery Options

Working with Microsoft SQL Server for many years I have spent a lot of time discussing the importance of the availability of SQL Server databases.  Questions that always come up when discussing availability of the data is “Recovery Time Objective – RTO” and “Recovery Point Objective – RPO”.  Both questions are very important when determining […]

Know Backups and Know Restores – SQL Server Restores

A couple of years ago I put together a training session to demonstrate various types of backups and restores. The driving factor behind me building this session was the response I got from talking to a dozen or so DBA’s about disaster recovery. I asked how many have ever performed a restore where you had to […]

The Primary Filegroup Cannot be Backed Up as a File Backup

File Group backups are great when working with very large databases (VLDB’s) that have been partitioned.  Typically when I come across File Group backups implemented in production the database is using the full recovery model. With the full recovery model you can specify individual file groups for backup. A very common backup strategy for VLDB’s […]

How to check for last SQL Server backup

As a database professional, I get asked to review the health of database environments very often. When I perform these reviews, one of the many checks I perform is reviewing backup history and making sure that the backup plans in place meet the requirements and service level agreements for the business. I have found a […]

Recovering the tail end of the transaction log

Knowing a great deal about backup and recovery is key to any DBA’s career. Most of us fully understand the recovery models, recovery point objectives and recovery time objectives. What I have found from speaking at many SQL Saturday’s and User Groups is that most DBA’s do not regularly practice recovery strategies. It is very […]