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test database backups - to where?
can anyone give a beginners guide on how you actually test restores of database backups (be that sql or oracle), on the actual production database server. for example you may wish to test the backups work - fine, but if you do that on the production db server itself, wouldnt it just overwrite the live database - i.e. revert it back to a backed up state from say a week ago.
So do you do test restores onto test servers (and not production)- and is classed as sufficient as you still havent tested it on the production database server which is where youd have to restore it to in case of emergency, as you still havent proved the backup can be restored onto the production db server in case of emergency, but you have proved it can be restored to a test server (or is that sufficient ie if it restores fine on a test db server it will restore fine on a production db server).
So do you do test restores onto test servers (and not production)- and is classed as sufficient as you still havent tested it on the production database server which is where youd have to restore it to in case of emergency, as you still havent proved the backup can be restored onto the production db server in case of emergency, but you have proved it can be restored to a test server (or is that sufficient ie if it restores fine on a test db server it will restore fine on a production db server).
Microsoft SQL ServerOracle DatabaseDatabases
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MikeOM_DBA
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Have you ever had any database backups that you couldnt restore onto either test or production - and did you ever identify why they couldnt be restored/common issues that mean backups cant be restored (hence the need for testing/resolution of any faults before it comes to crunch time when a production restore is required).
>>Have you ever had ...
Yes. It was the fault of a DBA that got tapes out of rotation and overwrote a tape containing a required archived redo log. In Oracle, you miss one, you can only restore to the point of the missing one.
Luckily we could force the database open and do a full export, rebuild the database and import all the data back in. That was a fun 72 hour marathon with several layers of management constantly standing behind me asking if it was done yet.
I have also had tapes snap. Anyone that has been around for a while and dealt with tape has...
When testing recovery, as the admins are about ready to put a tape in, tell them that you have tagged is as 'broken' and they cannot use it.
Want some real fun: Do it to two tapes in a row.
This is why my 'important' files like archived redo logs are ALWAYS on a few tapes.
Yes. It was the fault of a DBA that got tapes out of rotation and overwrote a tape containing a required archived redo log. In Oracle, you miss one, you can only restore to the point of the missing one.
Luckily we could force the database open and do a full export, rebuild the database and import all the data back in. That was a fun 72 hour marathon with several layers of management constantly standing behind me asking if it was done yet.
I have also had tapes snap. Anyone that has been around for a while and dealt with tape has...
When testing recovery, as the admins are about ready to put a tape in, tell them that you have tagged is as 'broken' and they cannot use it.
Want some real fun: Do it to two tapes in a row.
This is why my 'important' files like archived redo logs are ALWAYS on a few tapes.
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