A SQL Server protection plan backs up all required files for each SQL Server database selected. This page discusses the process of restoring and recovering SQL Server databases.


In addition to restoring an individual database or a group of databases, the software can restore the entire protection plan. Generally, you only need to restore an entire protection plan in the case of accidental deletion, or restoring a system after a disk change or crash.


This software protects Microsoft SQL databases using the Microsoft SQL VSS Writer included with newer versions of Windows. When a database is backed up by the software, the VSS Writer is invoked and the files that compose the database are backed up in an open state (while databases are mounted). New transactions are deferred in memory while the existing database and Transaction Log files are backed up. The databases are left in an open state in the store targeted by the protection plan.


The software does not allow you to restore the database files to the original location. You must always choose an alternate location for restoring. The software never restores the database files back to their original location due to the potential of corrupting running databases. After restoring, you will need to reattach the database to the SQL Server. Whether the goal is to replace an existing damaged database, or simply to recover data from a table or tables, will determine if you should move the restored files to the original location of the database files, or leave them in their restored location. Never overwrite your original database files. Rename them and later delete them when your recovery is complete.


The process of restoring a protection plan begins with finding the restore point in the Archive Manager software for the plan you want to restore. Refer to Finding a Plan's Archive Restore Point.


Select the restore point you want to restore and the Restore button in the lower-right portion of the screen becomes active. Click Restore and a Database Restore dialog box appears.


After restoring, you simply need to reattach the database files to the SQL Server instance. Please refer to http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190209.aspx for information on attaching databases to SQL Server instances.