Restoring data is one of the most fundamental and important aspects of being a Database Administrator. Whether it’s due to a hardware failure or the need to restore data to a backup or standby server, having a solid understanding of the restoration process is crucial. In this article, we will discuss the steps involved in restoring a SQL Server database.

Full Database Restore

Regardless of the recovery model you are using (Simple, Full, or Bulk), the first step in restoring your database is to restore the last full backup. In SQL Server Management Studio, you can easily restore the database by right-clicking on it and selecting “All Tasks” > “Restore Database”. From there, you can choose the backup file and specify any additional options, such as ejecting a tape after the restore completes or getting prompted before restoring each backup.

If you prefer using T-SQL, you can use the following syntax to restore a database:

RESTORE DATABASE [database_name]
FROM < backup_device >
WITH [RESTRICTED_USER]
[FILE = {file_number}]
[PASSWORD = {password}]
[MEDIANAME = {media_name}]
[MEDIAPASSWORD = {mediapassword}]
[MOVE 'logical_file_name' TO 'operating_system_file_name']
[KEEP_REPLICATION]
[{NORECOVERY | RECOVERY | STANDBY = undo_file_name}]
[{NOREWIND | REWIND}]
[{NOUNLOAD | UNLOAD}]
[REPLACE]
[RESTART]
[STATS [= percentage]]

Differential Database Restore

If you need to perform a differential restore, remember to first restore the last full backup of your database. In SQL Server Management Studio, you can select the full backup and the differential backup, and then choose “Ok” to perform the restore.

For T-SQL users, the syntax for a differential restore is as follows:

RESTORE DATABASE [database_name]
FROM < backup_device >
WITH [RESTRICTED_USER]
[FILE = {file_number}]
[PASSWORD = {password}]
[MEDIANAME = {media_name}]
[MEDIAPASSWORD = {mediapassword}]
[MOVE 'logical_file_name' TO 'operating_system_file_name']
[KEEP_REPLICATION]
[{NORECOVERY | RECOVERY | STANDBY = undo_file_name}]
[{NOREWIND | REWIND}]
[{NOUNLOAD | UNLOAD}]
[REPLACE]
[RESTART]
[STATS [= percentage]]

Transaction Log Database Restore

Prior to performing a transaction log restore, you must first restore the full backup, the last differential backup, and all transaction logs in chronological order. In SQL Server Management Studio, you can select all the backups and choose a point-in-time restore option if applicable.

If you prefer using T-SQL, you can use the following syntax to restore a transaction log:

RESTORE LOG [database_name]
FROM < backup_device >
WITH [RESTRICTED_USER]
[FILE = {file_number}]
[PASSWORD = {password}]
[MEDIANAME = {media_name}]
[MEDIAPASSWORD = {mediapassword}]
[MOVE 'logical_file_name' TO 'operating_system_file_name']
[KEEP_REPLICATION]
[{NORECOVERY | RECOVERY | STANDBY = undo_file_name}]
[{NOREWIND | REWIND}]
[{NOUNLOAD | UNLOAD}]
[REPLACE]
[RESTART]
[STATS [= percentage]]

Conclusion

Restoring a SQL Server database is a critical skill for any Database Administrator. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to restore any database based on your disaster recovery plan. Remember to always have a backup strategy in place and regularly test your restoration process to ensure the integrity of your data.