Does backup include all relevant table create statements? 1

[mikelawrence]

I do backups of several databases everynight and have used them to repopulate test databases on a regular basis. However i just want to make sure that if i set up an entirely new server and load up sql server will i be able to restore a backup file and it will contain all information necessary, ie table creates, indexes etc? I've gone through the FAQ and now i am backing up model, msdb and master. I know that any updates since the backup will be lost but is there anything else i need to worry about?

Also is there any problem with zipping backup files when it comes to restoring? and is there a way of automating the zipping of files as part of the backup procedure (i'm using SQL Server Agent through EM to schedule my backups).

Any advice would be appreciated,

thanks

mike

 

[mrdenny]

A backup will have all the tables and data in it. There's nothing wrong with zipping up a backup, however once the backup is over 2 Gigs you won't be able to zip it up.

If you get a command line version of pkzip or winzip you can setup the job to zip it up.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005) / MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com