Introduction
Once you have followed how to backup a MS SQL database you will be ready to restore it. There are two methods of restoring a MS SQL database:
- VSS Restore Method: The database is restored and injected directly into the running SQL database. Use with caution.
- File Restore Method: The mdf and ldf files are restored else ware and can be attached to the database manually.
VSS Restore Method
VSS restores can overwrite current live data. During a restore, data is downloaded from the Storage Platform and written to a temporary location on the hard drive. This location is a folder that will temporarily hold the restored data, before it is streamed back into the database from where it was initially backed up.
Therefore, take care when doing test restores as they will overwrite any current data in the database with the data from the restore.
- Open the BackupVault Pro client and click on the Restore tab.
- Select the date you wish to restore from.
- Click on the SQL tab.
- Right click on the database you wish to restore and select Include.
- Click Restore.
- Acknowledge the warning and click Overwrite to start the restore process.
After the data has been restored from the BackupVault Storage Platform it will temporarily be written to disk. The VSS component will then import the data into the live MS SQL server.
File Restore Method
A safer and preferred method of restoring SQL databases is to use the File Restore Method. Using this method, mdf and ldf files are restored to an alternative location on the server.
- Open the BackupVault Pro client and click on the Restore tab.
- Select the date you wish to restore from.
- Click on the Computer tab.
- Click on the + signs to find the location of the database data (typically located at C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQLName\MSSQL\Data)
- Right click on the database mdf and ldf files you wish to restore and select Include.
- Click Restore.
- Choose a restore location
- Once the restore has completed you can move the files to a new location and re-attach the database.