Performing database verification using SnapManager

On the production SQL server, click the Backup and Verification tab.

In the left panel, select the databases you want to verify.

When you select a database, SnapManager automatically selects all other databases that reside on the same storage system volume. For information about deselecting any automatically selected databases, see the bullet "Which databases you want to back up" under Job-specific parameters.

In the Types panel, select the Verify Databases and Transaction Logs in the Most Recent Unverified Backups (Run DBCC CHECKDB) option.

Result

The Options subpanel provides a choice of backup options that pertain verifying the unverified backup Snapshot copies.

Select the number of the most recent unverified backups you want to verify.

Note
Only unverified backups are counted. For example, if you select 2, and all of the databases contained in the most recent backup have already been verified, then SnapManager verifies the databases in the two previous backups.

In the Backup Management Group option, select the backup management group of the backups you want to verify.

If you want to verify the most recent backups regardless of their backup management group, select All.

If you want to run a command after the database verification finishes, select the Run Command After Operation option. This is usually done to archive backups.

Note
If you select this option, SnapManager will prompt you for the details when you are ready to start or schedule the verification operation.

If your volume is a SnapMirror source volume and you do not want the destination volume to be updated after this verification is complete, clear the Update SnapMirror After Operation option.

Note
The result of the database verification operation (the database integrity status) is written to the backup set, in the SnapInfo directory. By replicating the backup set to the mirrored volume, this status information is kept current on the mirrored volume.

Verify now or schedule for later?

You can either run the verification now or schedule it for later. Click one of the following buttons:

• Verify Now
• Schedule

If the Run Command After Operation dialog box appears, specify the command and then Click OK to close the dialog box.

For details, see Using the Run Command After Operation dialog box.

To complete this procedure by scheduling the verification:

If the Schedule Job dialog box appears, complete this procedure by scheduling the backup. For details, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job.

To complete this procedure by starting the verification:

If the Backup Status dialog box appears, do the following:

1. Read the items displayed in the Backup Task List. This list will be used to show the progress of the verification operation after you start it.
2. When you are ready to start the verification operation, click Start Now.

Result

The verification operation is performed, and each item in the Backup Task List is checked off as the task is finished.

• You can toggle the Backup Status dialog box between two different views--Backup Task List view and Backup Report view--by using the Switch button on either view.
• The Backup Report view displays detailed progress information as the verification progresses. You can also print this information by using the Print Report button.
• If the backup is successful, the Backup Task List view shows the check-off list with the tasks completed.
• If Notification is enabled, e-mail is sent and the event is posted to the Windows Application event log.

In the SnapManager for SQL Server main window, click the SnapManager Backup Wizard icon.

Result

The SnapManager Backup Wizard starts and displays the Welcome screen.

Welcome

Click Next.

Result

The Databases to Back Up or Verify screen appears.

Databases to Back Up or Verify

In the left panel, click to select the databases you want to verify,

When you select a database, SnapManager automatically selects all other databases that reside on the same storage system volume. For information about deselecting any automatically selected databases, see the bullet "Which databases you want to back up" under Job-specific parameters.

Click Next.

Result

The Back Up or Verify Databases and Transaction Logs screen appears.

Back Up or Verify Databases and Transaction Logs

Specify the number of database backup Snapshot copies you want to verify:

1. Select the "Verify Database in the" option.
2. In the "most recent unverified backups" option, select the number of database backup Snapshot copies to verify.
3. Click Next.

Result

The Backup Management Group screen appears.

Backup Management Group

Follow the instructions in the remainder of the Backup Wizard screens. The following screens enable you to specify the details of a database verification:

• Backup Management Group
• View or Change Verification Settings
• Advanced Backup Options
• Option to Perform SnapMirror Update After Operation

  Note
  This screen appears only if any SQL Server databases or SnapInfo directories reside on a SnapMirror source volume.

• Run a Command After the Operation

For a list of information you need to provide, see Information you need to specify for a database verification.

When to Run this Operation

The When to Run this Operation screen prompts you to choose whether you want the operation to be performed now or scheduled for a later time.

If you want to...

Then...

Run the database verification now

Go to Step 8.

Schedule the database verification for later

Go to Step 11.

To run the database verification now:

If you want to run the database verification now, do the following:

1. Leave the Now option selected.
2. Click Next.

Result

The Completing the Backup Wizard screen appears and displays the database verification settings you have selected.

After you verify that all the settings in the window are correct, go to the Completing the Backup Wizard dialog box and click Finish.

Result

The Backup Wizard closes and the Backup Status window appears and displays a Backup Task List that will be used to show the progress of the database verification operation after you start it.

In the Backup Status window, click Start Now.

Result

The database verification is performed.

• The Backup Status dialog box appears and displays a Backup Task List that will be used to show the progress of the backup operation after you start it.
• SnapManager Backup completes each task and checks it off on the list shown in the Backup Task List view.
• You can switch back and forth between the task check-off list and the progress report using the Switch buttons on either view.
• If the verification is successful, the Task window shows the check-off list with the tasks completed.
• If Notification is enabled, e-mail is sent and the event is posted to the Windows Application event log.

To schedule the database verification for later:

If you want to schedule the database verification for later, do the following:

1. Select the Later option.
2. In the Job Name box, enter a name for this job.
3. If you want this job name to overwrite a job of the same name (if it exists), select the Replace Job if Exists option.
4. Click Next.

For more information, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job.

Result

The Select the Scheduling Service screen appears.

In the Select the Scheduling Service screen, do the following:

1. Select either SQL Server Agent or Windows Scheduled Tasks.

   For more information, see Scheduling a backup job or a database verification job.

2. Click Next.

Result

The Completing the Backup Wizard screen appears and displays the backup settings you have selected.

After you verify that all the settings in the window are correct, go to the Completing the Backup Wizard dialog box and click Finish.

Result

The selected scheduler displays one of two dialog boxes, as follows:

• If you chose to schedule the backup job using the SQL Server Agent, the Properties dialog box appears.
• If you chose to schedule the backup job using Scheduled Tasks, the Schedule Job dialog box appears.

To schedule the job and close the Backup Wizard, do the following:

1. Specify the details of the job.
2. Click OK.