By: Ken Simmons | Comments (20) | Related: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | > Restore
Problem
There are a lot of scripts out there that will allow you to use the msdb to auto-generate restore scripts, but what if you cannot access the msdb database. What is the easiest way to make sure I have the proper restore scripts on hand without relying on the msdb database?
Solution
The best way to make sure you have the proper restore scripts when the time comes is to make use of PRINT statements and OUTPUT files. Every time your backup job runs, whether it is a Full or Log, place a step at the end of the job to read the new data from the msdb database and write it to an output file. I generally place the restore script in the root of my backup folders and make sure the script is backed up as well.
First, create a new SQL Agent Job step called "Generate Restore Script" at the end of your backup job and insert the script listed below.
SET NOCOUNT ON DECLARE @databaseName sysname CREATE TABLE #TmpCommands (ID INT IDENTITY(1,1), Cmd VARCHAR(8000) ) DECLARE dbnames_cursor CURSOR FOR SELECT name FROM master..sysdatabases WHERE name NOT IN ( 'model','tempdb', 'pubs','northwind') AND (status & 32) =0 -- Do not include loading AND (status & 64) =0 -- Do not include loading AND (status & 128) =0 -- Do not include recovering AND (status & 256) =0 -- Do not include not recovered AND (status & 512) =0 -- Do not include offline AND (status & 32768) =0 -- Do not include emergency AND (status & 1073741824) =0 -- Do not include cleanly shutdown OPEN dbnames_cursor FETCH NEXT FROM dbnames_cursor INTO @databaseName WHILE (@@FETCH_STATUS <> -1) BEGIN IF (@@FETCH_STATUS <> -2) BEGIN INSERT INTO #TmpCommands(Cmd) VALUES ('----------------Script to Restore the ' + @databaseName + ' Database--------------') DECLARE @backupStartDate datetime DECLARE @backup_set_id_start INT DECLARE @backup_set_id_end INT SELECT @backup_set_id_start = MAX(backup_set_id) FROM msdb.dbo.backupset WHERE database_name = @databaseName AND type = 'D' SELECT @backup_set_id_end = MIN(backup_set_id) FROM msdb.dbo.backupset WHERE database_name = @databaseName AND type = 'D' AND backup_set_id > @backup_set_id_start IF @backup_set_id_end IS NULL SET @backup_set_id_end = 999999999 INSERT INTO #TmpCommands(Cmd) SELECT Cmd FROM( SELECT backup_set_id, 'RESTORE DATABASE ' + @databaseName + ' FROM DISK = ''' + mf.physical_device_name + ''' WITH NORECOVERY --' Cmd FROM msdb.dbo.backupset b, msdb.dbo.backupmediafamily mf WHERE b.media_set_id = mf.media_set_id AND b.database_name = @databaseName AND b.backup_set_id = @backup_set_id_start UNION SELECT backup_set_id, 'RESTORE LOG ' + @databaseName + ' FROM DISK = ''' + mf.physical_device_name + ''' WITH FILE = ' + CAST(position AS VARCHAR(10)) + ', NORECOVERY --' Cmd FROM msdb.dbo.backupset b, msdb.dbo.backupmediafamily mf WHERE b.media_set_id = mf.media_set_id AND b.database_name = @databaseName AND b.backup_set_id >= @backup_set_id_start AND b.backup_set_id < @backup_set_id_end AND b.type = 'L' UNION SELECT 999999999 AS backup_set_id, 'RESTORE DATABASE ' + @databaseName + ' WITH RECOVERY --' Cmd ) A ORDER BY backup_set_id END FETCH NEXT FROM dbnames_cursor INTO @DatabaseName END CLOSE dbnames_cursor DEALLOCATE dbnames_cursor DECLARE @PrintCommand VARCHAR(8000) DECLARE Print_cursor CURSOR FOR SELECT Cmd FROM #TmpCommands ORDER BY ID OPEN Print_cursor FETCH NEXT FROM Print_cursor INTO @PrintCommand WHILE (@@FETCH_STATUS <> -1) BEGIN IF (@@FETCH_STATUS <> -2) BEGIN PRINT @PrintCommand END FETCH NEXT FROM Print_cursor INTO @PrintCommand END CLOSE Print_cursor DEALLOCATE Print_cursor DROP TABLE #TmpCommands
Next, go to the Advanced Tab of the Job Step and enter a destination for the Output File as shown below.
Here is sample of what the output looks like:
So if I want to restore the "test2" database, I would just use the three lines highlighted above.
That's all there is to it. The next time your backup runs it will generate a script in the output file that can be used to restore any of the databases for the instance. Since the script runs when the backup runs, you will always have a current restore script on hand.
Next Steps
- Review this tip to get a better understanding of how the restore script works.
- Test your restore scripts. No matter how automated you make things, make sure you do not get a false sense of security when it comes to restoring your databases. There is no substitution for manually testing your restore process.
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This author pledges the content of this article is based on professional experience and not AI generated.
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