Performing a restore operation

Review the list in Information you need to perform a restore.

Make sure that all Windows Explorer windows are closed on the SQL Server computer that is running SnapManager.

Disable any SnapManager operations that are scheduled to run against the SQL Server data you are restoring, including any jobs scheduled on remote management or remote verification servers.

In the SnapManager main window, click the SnapManager Restore tab.

Result

The tab enables you to navigate the backup sets from which you can select databases to be restored.

Specify the source.

If you want to restore databases to this SQL Server using SnapManager backup sets that were created for other SQL Servers, follow the procedure described in Restoring from other SQL Server backups using the SnapManager Restore tab.

In the left panel, double-click to select the backup set from which you want to restore.

Result

The Selected Backup for Restore field displays the backup set you selected to be restored.

If you selected a multiple-database backup set, you can follow these steps to select only a subset of the databases:

1. In the right panel, highlight any database.
2. Right-click to open the context menu, then select Unselect All Databases and Logs to deselect all of the databases in the backup set.

1. To select an individual database in the backup set, click to select that database in the right panel.

Result

Only the selected databases will be restored from the backup sets you specified.

Specify the destination.

If you want to restore to an SQL Server other than the original, follow these steps:

1. Click "..." to the right of the "Restore to Server (instance)" box.

   The "Select SQL Server to Restore..." dialog box appears.

2. Select the SQL Server to which you want to restore the database.
3. Click OK to apply your change and close the dialog box.

If you want to restore to a database other than the original database, follow these steps:

1. If you selected a multiple-database backup set, click in the right panel to select a single database that you want to restore to a database other than the original.
2. Click "..." to the right of the Restore as Database box.

   The "Individual Database Restore As..." dialog box appears.

3. In the Restore as Database box, enter the database name to which you want the backup restored. This database name must not already exist on the SQL Server instance to which you will be restoring the database.
4. Click OK to apply your change and close the dialog box.

If you want to restore the databases to a temporary, alternate location using a writable Snapshot copy, select the "Restore to Alternate Location using Writable SnapShot" option.

For more information, see Destinations for a restore operation.

Note
As soon as you have finished viewing the data, detach the database and dismount the Snapshot copy LUNs as described in Detaching a database and dismounting Snapshot LUNs.

Specify the restore type.

If you are restoring a single database and you want to perform a point-in-time restore, do the following:

1. Select the Point in Time Restore option.

   The Point in Time Restore dialog box appears.

2. In the Point in Time Restore dialog box, specify the date and time after which transaction logs will not be applied to the restored database.
3. Click OK to apply your change and close the dialog box.

   If you want to view or change the date and time for the point-in-time restore, click "..." to the right of the "Point in Time Restore" box.

   Note
   A point-in-time restore will halt the restoration of transaction log entries that were recorded after the specified date and time.

If you are restoring multiple databases and you want to perform a point-in-time restore of all of the databases to the point in time when the backup was created, do the following:

1. Select the Point in Time Restore option.

   A message box appears and prompts you to confirm that you want to restore all the selected databases to the point in time when the backup was created.

2. In the message box, click Yes.

If you are restoring multiple databases and you want to perform a point-in-time restore of all of the databases to the point in time when the backup was created followed by a transaction log restore, do the following:

1. Select the Point in Time Restore option.

   A message box appears and prompts you to confirm that you want to restore all the selected databases to the point in time when the backup was created.

2. In the message box, click No.

   Another message box appears and prompts you to confirm that you want to restore all the selected databases to the point in time when the backup was created and then also restore from a transaction log backup.

3. In the message box, click Yes.

   The Point in Time Restore dialog box appears.

4. In the Point in Time Restore dialog box, specify the date and time after which transaction logs are not to be applied to the restored databases.
5. Click OK to apply your change and close the dialog box.

   If you want to view or change the date and time for the point-in-time restore, click "..." to the right of the Point in Time Restore box.

Click Restore to open a dialog box that enables you to finish specifying the restore operation.

Note
A different the dialog box will appear, depending on whether you are restoring a single database or multiple databases.

If...

Then...

You are restoring a single database

The Restore Options dialog box appears.

For detailed instructions, see Specifying single-database recovery state from the SnapManager Restore tab.

You are restoring multiple databases

The Multiple Databases Restore Option dialog box appears.

For detailed instructions, see Specifying multiple-database recovery state from the SnapManager Restore tab.

Result

The Restore Status dialog box appears and displays the Restore Task List, which will be used to show the progress of the restore operation after you start it.

To start the restore operation, click Start Now.

Result

SnapManager begins to restore your databases from the backup you selected. SnapManager Restore completes each task and checks it off the list shown in the Restore 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 window.

If the restore is successful, the Task window shows the check-off list with the tasks completed, and a dialog box reports that the restore was successful.

Note
If Notification is enabled, e-mail is sent and the event is posted to the Windows event log.

After all the restore tasks are finished, click OK.

Result

Your restore is complete and your SQL Server computer comes back online.

After the restore is finished, you can optionally perform a SnapManager backup and verification to verify that your restored database is free of physical-level corruption.

Review the list in Information you need to perform a restore.

Make sure that all Windows Explorer windows are closed on the SQL Server computer running SnapManager.

Disable any SnapManager operations that are scheduled to run against the SQL Server data you are restoring, including any jobs scheduled on remote management or remote verification servers.

To launch the SnapManager Restore Wizard, go to the SnapManager menu bar and select Wizard > SnapManager Restore.

Result

The SnapManager Restore Wizard appears and displays the Welcome screen.

Welcome

Click Next.

Result

The Which SQL Server Created the Backups screen appears.

Which SQL Server Created the Backups

By default, SnapManager restores from backups that were created on this SQL Server.

If...

Then...

Restore from backups that were created on this SQL Server

Do the following:

1. Leave the "Restore SnapManager backups that were created on a different SQL Server" option unselected.
2. Click Next.
3. Go to Step 8.

Restore from backups that were created on a different SQL Server

Follow the procedure described in Restoring from other SQL Server backups using the SnapManager Restore Wizard.

SQL Server Where the Backups Were Created

The "SQL Server Where the Backups Were Create" screen appears only if you selected the "Restore from Another SQL Server Backup" option. Follow the procedure described in Restoring databases from other SQL Server backups.

Single-database backup set or multiple-database backup set?

The sequence of Restore Wizard screens varies, depending on whether you choose to restore from a single-database backup set or from a multiple-database backup set.

If...

Then...

You are restoring from a single-database backup set

Go to Step 9.

You are restoring from a multiple-database backup set

Go to Step 11.

Restoring from a single-database backup set

Follow the instructions in the Restore Wizard screens:

• Backup to Restore

  In the left panel, expand the list, then double-click to select the single-database backup set from which you want to restore. In the right panel, you can deselect or reselect transaction log backups.

• Restore Transaction Log Backup

  This screen appears only if you selected transaction log backups. If you do not want to restore transaction log backups, then click Back, and deselect the transaction log backups.

• Type of Restore

  Select either Up-to-the-Minute restore or Point-in-Time restore.

• Database State after the Restore

  For detailed instructions, see Specifying single-database recovery state from within the Restore Wizard.

• Restored Database Name
• SQL Server Where the Backup Will Be Restored

  If you want to restore to an alternate location using a writable Snapshot copy, select the "Restore to Alternate Location using Writable SnapShot" option. For more information, see Destinations for a restore operation. As soon as you have finished viewing the data, detach the database and dismount the Snapshot copy LUNs. See Detaching a database and dismounting Snapshot LUNs.

• Verify the Database in this Backup

  This screen appears only if you selected a backup that contains an unverified database.

• Advanced Restore Options

For a list of information you need to provide, see Information you need to perform a restore.

Result

After you click Next, the Completing the Backup Wizard screen appears and displays the restore settings you have selected.

Go to Step 12.

Restoring from a multiple-database backup set

Follow the instructions in the remainder of the Restore Wizard screens:

• Backup to Restore

  In the left panel, expand the list and then double-click to select the multiple-database backup set from which you want to restore.

• Restore Databases and Transaction Logs
  • By default, all databases and transaction log backups are selected. To deselect or reselect all transaction log backups, click Select All or Unselect All.
  • If you want to perform a point-in-time restore, select the Point in Time Restore option.
• Database State after the Restore

  For detailed instructions, see Specifying multiple-database recovery state from within the Restore Wizard.

• Restore a Database as a New Database
• Database Restore Target Location

  To restore to an alternate location using a writable Snapshot copy, select the "Restore to Alternate Location using Writable SnapShot" option. For more information, see Destinations for a restore operation and Databases restored to or mounted at temporary, alternate locations.

• Verify the Databases in this Backup

  This screen appears only if you selected a backup that contains an unverified database.

• Advanced Restore Options

For a list of information you need to provide, see Information you need to perform a restore.

Result

After you click Next in the Advanced Restore Options screen, the Completing the Backup Wizard screen appears and displays the restore settings you have selected.

Completing the Restore Wizard

After you verify that all the settings in the screen are correct, click Finish.

Result

The Restore Wizard closes and the Restore Status dialog box appears and displays the Restore Task List, which will be used to show the progress of the restore operation after you start it.

Restore Status

To start the restore operation, click Start Now.

Result

SnapManager begins to restore your databases from the backup you selected. SnapManager Restore completes each task and checks it off on the list shown in the Restore 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 window.

If the restore is successful, the Task window shows the check-off list with the tasks completed, and a dialog box reports that the restore was successful.

Note
If Notification is enabled, e-mail is sent and the event is posted to the Windows event log.

After the restore is complete, click OK to close the dialog box.

Result

Your restore is now complete and your SQL Server computer comes back online.

After the restore is finished, you can optionally perform a SnapManager backup and verification to verify that your restored database is free of physical-level corruption.