Testing the backups to another DB

[mrrrl]

We backup our main DB (SQL 7 DB) to tape using Backup Exec v8.6. I have restored the xxxx.bak file to the hard drive. How do I restore this to another DB other then the original to test it. I don't want to restore it to the original DB for obvious reasons.

TIA

 

[JayKusch]

Just create a shell, empty, DB of the database you just backed up. The easy way is to open up Enterprise Manager and right click on the shell DB and choose to restore the DB.

Point the restore operation to the backup file. Only tricky part may be to update the "correct" path that the MDF and LDF are pointing to in the backup header. They need to match with the path of the current MDF/LDF of the shell DB.



Thanks

J. Kusch

 

[mrrrl]

Thanks, but that just gave me errors. There has to be a way to test the backup. Any ideas?

 

[JayKusch]

First of all ... What were the errors?

Second, most backups plans we have executed have always gone from Disk to Tape.

We run SQL LiteSpeed to create a disc backup of the DB. This is a much better approach due to the speed you will realize when you have to perform a restore.

We then back up the disc copy to tape for archiving and disaster recovery purposes.

I have personally had nothing but issues when spooling backups straight from SQL Server to Tape.

Third, they only way you are going to be able to truely validate your backups is to restore them either to the current DB, which you do not want to do for good reason, or to a temp/test DB as I have suggested.

Thanks

J. Kusch

 

[JayKusch]

I am going to venture a guess that you are trying to test your restore process on the same server you cut the backup from.

IF SO ... you of course cannot create the shell DB based on the name of the backup file you just created because that DB ALREADY EXISTS.

You would have to create a shell/empty DB with another name like "MyTestDB" or something similar. Then follow the steps I relayed earlier.

Please post your errors, if any. This helps other members that may run into the same situation we are working on now.

Have a good one!

Thanks

J. Kusch