MS SQL Server Tools - Backup troubles

Author

Backup troubles

George Spiro

2006-11-21, 7:14 pm

Hi,

I need some help with a logic for a important document I need to create. Its
regarding my Backup procedures that require me to test my database backups
every 3 months. The problem occurs that I do not have another server to test
out the database. So my solution was the following:

* Backup DB
* Restore DB redirected towards another DB

Now the problem is that QA doesnt think that is enough. I noticed that SQL
2005 (starting since SQL 2000) has this option which alot of 3rd party
Backup application use (my case backup exec 10d) "consistency check".

I am wondering if I set a consistency check at Backup and then at restore
with consistency check, could I absolutely prove that both databases are
EXACTLY the same.

Example using MD5 for comparing 2 files.
"Consistency check is the MD5 for the DB"

Thank you so much,

George S.

John Bell

2006-11-22, 5:20 am

Hi

The restoration of the database will only prove that you can backup and
restore that backup i.e. the backup was not corrupted. It does not mean to
say that the restored database is the one that you backed up i.e. the backup
was not subsequently overwritten with a different backup. Therefore the issue
is one for protecting the backup and making sure it is not tampered with. A
checksum of the backup file may help, but then it doesn't mean that someone
has not tampered with where that is stored either!! If checking consistency
is the same as a DBCC CHECKDB it is not a comparison of the two databases.

HTH

John

"George Spiro" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I need some help with a logic for a important document I need to create. Its
> regarding my Backup procedures that require me to test my database backups
> every 3 months. The problem occurs that I do not have another server to test
> out the database. So my solution was the following:
>
> * Backup DB
> * Restore DB redirected towards another DB
>
> Now the problem is that QA doesnt think that is enough. I noticed that SQL
> 2005 (starting since SQL 2000) has this option which alot of 3rd party
> Backup application use (my case backup exec 10d) "consistency check".
>
> I am wondering if I set a consistency check at Backup and then at restore
> with consistency check, could I absolutely prove that both databases are
> EXACTLY the same.
>
> Example using MD5 for comparing 2 files.
> "Consistency check is the MD5 for the DB"
>
> Thank you so much,
>
> George S.
>
>
>

George Spiro

2006-11-22, 7:14 pm

So what exactly is the Check consistency option on SQL 2000 / 2005?

G.

"John Bell" < jbellnewsposts@hotma
il.com> wrote in message
news:6D092594-641C-46D3-92ED- 78F3D0E13678@microso
ft.com...[color=darkred]
> Hi
>
> The restoration of the database will only prove that you can backup and
> restore that backup i.e. the backup was not corrupted. It does not mean to
> say that the restored database is the one that you backed up i.e. the
> backup
> was not subsequently overwritten with a different backup. Therefore the
> issue
> is one for protecting the backup and making sure it is not tampered with.
> A
> checksum of the backup file may help, but then it doesn't mean that
> someone
> has not tampered with where that is stored either!! If checking
> consistency
> is the same as a DBCC CHECKDB it is not a comparison of the two databases.
>
> HTH
>
> John
>
> "George Spiro" wrote:
>

John Bell

2006-11-22, 7:14 pm

Hi George

I don't use backup exec so I can not be sure, but the sales literature does
talk about performing DBCC commands, I don't think that it is anything that
will help you, although you may want to check with Symantic directly.

John

"George Spiro" wrote:

> So what exactly is the Check consistency option on SQL 2000 / 2005?
>
> G.
>
>
> "John Bell" < jbellnewsposts@hotma
il.com> wrote in message
> news:6D092594-641C-46D3-92ED- 78F3D0E13678@microso
ft.com...
>
>
>

Sponsored Links