In the first part of the two-part series, we explored migrating databases by first updating the master database system catalogs which contain records of the physical location of data files. In the current article, we shall look at two other methods of migrating databases in SQL Server which essentially have the same effect through the approach is different. Read More
Transaction logs are a vital and important component of database architecture. In this article, we’ll discuss SQL Server transaction logs, importance, and their role in the database migration.
Introduction
Let’s talk about different options for taking SQL Server backups. SQL Server supports three different types of Backups.
1. Full
2. Differential
3. Transaction-log
Before jumping into transaction-log concepts, let’s discuss other basic backup types in SQL Server. Read More
Transaction Log Shipping is a very well-known technology used in SQL Server to maintain a copy of the live database in the Disaster Recovery Site. The technology depends on three key jobs: the Backup Job, the Copy Job, and the Restore Job. While the Backup job runs on the Primary Server, the Copy and Restore jobs run on the Secondary Server. Essentially the process involves periodic transaction log backups to a share from which the Copy Job moves same to the Secondary Server; subsequently, the Restore Job applies the log backups to the secondary server. Before all this starts, the Secondary Database must be initialized with a full backup from the Primary server restored with NORECOVERY option.
To manage the data security that has been backed up by the file system as a database backup files, SQL Server provides the backup encryption feature. In this article, we will talk about encryption options available in SQL Server for database backups. We will have a closer look at the usage details, benefits, and recommended practices for encrypting SQL Server database backup during the backup process. Read More
This is the third article in a series of articles about SQL Server transaction log. In this article, we will have a look at log record details.
Log records are the core of the logging and recovery mechanisms. A log record describes a single change in a database. Thus, every change to a database has a log record or log records that help to describe that particular change. Although you do not need to understand log record details, to understand what is going on with logging and recovery, those details are extremely interesting. Read More
This is the second article in a series of articles about SQL Server transaction log file architecture. In this article, we will have a look at two SQL Server statements that allow examining transaction log details. If you would like to get an introductory information about how SQL Server transaction log works, read Dive Into SQL Server Transaction Log — Part 1 Read More
Chances are you already know that every SQL Server database contains one or more transaction log files, in addition to data files, that records all the transactions and database modifications made by each transaction. The transaction log is an essential part of any database, and the database administrator must keep it under observation. One of the most important tasks for the database administrator is to truncate the transaction log file to keep it from overflow. Why? Because the transaction log plays the most important role when it comes to the database recovery. Read More