Andy Lacey
andy at minstersystems.co.uk
Tue Sep 14 16:15:34 CDT 2004
Thanks for this Arthur. -- Andy Lacey http://www.minstersystems.co.uk > -----Original Message----- > From: dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf > Of Arthur Fuller > Sent: 14 September 2004 21:36 > To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com > Subject: RE: [dba-SQLServer] File extensions > > > It's dead simple to take the files home, assuming that you > have a device of suitable size. > > 1. Perform a backup using Enterprise Manager. > 2. Zip (or far better, RAR (c.f. WinRAR -- google it) the > backup file. 3. Copy said file to your medium (CD, DVD, > whatever). For BIG files I use my ftp site, so as to sidestep > the limitations of CD, DVD, email attachment, etc. 4. Copy it > to a suitable directory on your home machine. Unzip/unRAR it. > Simplest location is x:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL > Server\MSSQL\Backup (the default location to look for > backups). 5. Run EM at home and select any database (this is > first time; once the database exists at home select it). > Select Tools/Restore Database. Change the name to the > appropriate name. Select From Device in the opton buttons. > Navigate to the backup file. Click the Options tab and if > necessary edit the filenames (you might have to change > drive/dir depending on similarity/difference between your > office box and your home box; if so just click in the > filename and edit to suit). Also on the Options tab, click > the Force Restore checkbox. 6. Click OK. > > First time, this should create the database, using the named > files and their specified locations, and restore it from the > backup. Subsequent times, the database will exist already, so > you just select it in step 5 and step through the prompts. > This might seem a little complex upon first read, but I > assure you that it's dead simple. In the last site I worked > at, I did this every day before leaving work, and if I did > anything at home, then I reversed the process before > returning to work. > > What never ceases to amaze me about MS-SQL is the speed of > its backups. I always did a complete (as opposed to > differential) backup on a db that was about 300 Megs and it > NEVER took more than a couple of minutes -- it was WAY faster > than copying the actual files from one dir to another. RARing > it took a little longer but compressed it magnificently, and > the FTP from home took only a few minutes. Restore a BOOM, > data identical to what I just left at work! > > I would stay away from trying to copy the actual MDF and LDF > files and instead go with Backup and Restore. > > Arthur > > -----Original Message----- > From: dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf > Of Andy Lacey > Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 2:49 AM > To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com > Subject: [dba-SQLServer] File extensions > > > Sent this hours ago but hasn't appeared, hence trying again > - so apologies in advance when the original turns up. > > Hello good people on this wet and windy Autumn evening in the UK > > Simple question from a simple soul. I keep a weather eye on > the SQL server list but never having actually developed a SQL > system my question > is: if I go to look at a client's existing system how can I > tell if it is SQL (which I think it is)? Would file suffixes > tell me, or can a developer call a database anything he/she > likes? And if the file suffixes are the answer what are the > magic three letters? Going on from there, if I was offered > the opportunity to take the data away to have a look at it > can I just zip up a file or two, and if so what would I need > in order to be able to read the data in Access when I got back home? > > -- Andy Lacey > http://www.minstersystems.co.uk > > _______________________________________________ > dba-SQLServer mailing list > dba-SQLServer at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-sqlserver > http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > _______________________________________________ > dba-SQLServer mailing list > dba-SQLServer at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-sqlserver > http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > >