I have two backup files
1) is named 'backup.sql' with a bunch of SQL defining TABLES
2) is named 'backup' with a bunch of encoded data, which I believe are the ROWS
I need to restore these TABLES + ROWS, but all I am able to figure out is how to restore the tables.
Any tips on dealing with these files? It's the first time I ever deal with SQL Server.
The backup process would not create a file with actual SQL statements, it would create a binary file. So #1 is not a backup file (it's probably a script someone saved to re-create the schema).
I would try to use SQL Server Management Studio to restore the second file and see what happens. I don't think it will allow you to restore an invalid file, but I would take some basic precautions like backing up the system first.
What is the extension for the 'backup' file? Is the filename backup.bak? If you have a backup file created by sql server then it 'should' contain the logic to create both the tables and restore the data, but it could depend on how the backup was created.
---Edit
It is possible for a .SQL file to contain data values as well as the logic to create the tables/columns for a database. I used to run backups of a MySql database in this way a long time ago...it just is not seen very often with SQL server since it has built in backup/restore funcationality.
Seems unlikely they would export all the rows from all tables into CSV file, and given you said it looks encrypted, it's making me think that's your actual backup file.
try this, save a copy of the "backup" file, rename it to backup.bak and run this from SQL Server Management Studio
restore filelistonly from disk='C:\backup.bak'
(assuming your file is saved on the root of the C: drive)
Any results/errors?
Related
I have developed a SQL Express database. I need to backup all but one table in that database in an automated way. I was thinking i could write a SQL script to do this, trigger it using sqlcmd from a batch file but not sure how to write that SQL script.
I was also thinking, if nothing else possible, i could create a second db that has the tables i want to backup then i write a script that copys data 'into' the second db and then do a auto backup of that entire db. This has the disadvantage of having a procrastinated unpacking of that backup when wanting to use it - its not a small install script.
Is this a possibility, is it the only option or is there tools for SQL Express to do this?
There is no option to exclude just one table while backing up .Few things i could think of
1.Right click database ->Tasks ->generate scripts ->exclude the table you want and choose to save the script and run this every time
2.you could also choose Export option,but since you are using SQL Express,you wont have the option to save this package
Keep the large table in a different database and just backup the original database. You can still use the large table even in a different database, i.e.
SELECT *
FROM MyDb.dbo.SomeTable s
JOIN OtherDb.dbo.LargeTable l
ON (expression);
I am trying to create a python script that will dynamically restore databases from .bak files. Running the query
RESTORE DATABASE db_name FROM DISK = '\\path\to\db\db_name.bak' WITH REPLACE
works great if the original database name doesn't exist, however since there is multiple servers and often duplicate names this is not always the case.
In the case that the .mdf name contained in the .bak file does exist, the WITH MOVE syntax is useful as shown below
RESTORE DATABASE db_name
FROM DISK = '\\path\to\db\db_name.bak'
WITH
MOVE 'Logical_name' TO '\\somepath\...\MyDB.mdf'
Unfortunately, this requires knowledge of the logical name before the query is run and is therefore not very useful for a general purpose script. Is there any way to get the logical name and populate it dynamically to make this more general purpose?
Use restore filelistonly commamd
I have a database which is needed to replicate.
I tried with copy database scenario but after 1 day it was failed.
I tried using to create .bak file but no enough space on disk....
I need an alternate scenario to achieve this..
Can I Create a new database and replace its mdf and ldf files with original database and rename files...?
The fastest and the easiest way - to use an additional disk with more free space.
I'd like to create a database backup using SSMS.
The backup file will be a .bak file, but I would like to ignore 1 column in a certain table, because this column isn't necessary, but it takes up 95% of the backup size.
The column values should all be replaced by 0x00 (column type is varbinary(max), not null).
What's the best way to do this?
FYI: I know how to generate a regular backup using Tasks => Back Up..
There is a long way of doing what you ask. Its basically create a new restored database, remove the non required data and then do a new backup again.
Create a Backup of the production database.
Restore the backup locally on production with a new name
Update the column with 0x00
Shrink the database (Shrink is helpful when doing a restore. This wont reduce the bak file size)
Take the backup of the new database (Also use Backup Compression to reduce the size even more)
Ftp the bak file
If you only needed a few tables, you could have used bcp but that looks out of the picture for your current requirement.
From SQL Server native backups, you can't. You'd have to restore the database to some other location and then migrate usefull data.
You can create a copy of your table without the column and backup using filegroups https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191539(SQL.90).aspx
I'm having a bit of trouble understanding the purpose of the WITH FORMAT option of the SQL Server BACKUP DATABASE command.
Using the MSDN example:
USE AdventureWorks2012;
GO
BACKUP DATABASE AdventureWorks2012
TO DISK = 'Z:\SQLServerBackups\AdventureWorks2012.Bak'
WITH FORMAT,
MEDIANAME = 'Z_SQLServerBackups',
NAME = 'Full Backup of AdventureWorks2012';
GO
I understand this deletes any existing backups and creates a new one.
If I was to omit the WITH FORMAT line, and I already had a backup at Z:\SQLServerBackups\AdventureWorks2012.Bak, what does this mean to my backup?
Is it incremental or does it overwrite with a full one?
It's a full backup, essentially appended to the file if it exists already, you'll see a File number 2 reference when you run it, and you'll see the backup file double in size. Each backup is independent of each other and either can be restored.