[dba-SQLServer] File extensions

Haslett, Andrew andrew.haslett at ilc.gov.au
Tue Sep 14 19:28:09 CDT 2004


Because a backup truncates the inactive portion of the log file, meaning it
can then be shrunk and saves space. 

It also places the DB in a 'complete' or 'safe' state (by rolling forward /
back transactions as required), which you can't guarantee by simply copying
the db files.

Backups are the recommended method.

-----Original Message-----
From: John W. Colby [mailto:jwcolby at colbyconsulting.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, 15 September 2004 7:13 AM
To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: RE: [dba-SQLServer] File extensions

Arthur,

Why go through the backup step.  Cant you just zip the files themselves?
Then attach them at home?

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Arthur
Fuller
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 4:36 PM
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

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