Test ZSTD backup compression in SQL Server 2025, compare recorded sizes and algorithms, and check restores before changing defaults.
Log Shipping to a Readable Standby: Restores vs Report Users
Configure a readable standby for log shipping, balance restore jobs with report users, and measure copy and restore delay.
Backup Retention: How Long to Keep What
Backup retention should preserve restore chains while meeting recovery, legal, and storage needs across full, differential, and log backups.
BACPAC or Backup: When an Export Is the Wrong Tool
A BACPAC export has rows in it, but it is not a recovery backup. Here is a small demo that shows the difference.
Restore a Database in SSMS: Step by Step
To restore a database in SSMS, right-click Databases, choose Restore Database, pick the backup file, name the destination and choose the recovery state. This post covers each page of the dialog, the tail-log error that stops overwrites, and the T-SQL for a full, differential and log restore chain.
Rehearsing a master Database Restore on a Test Instance
Rehearse a master database restore on a matching test instance, including single-user sqlcmd, automatic shutdown, and configuration checks.
SQL SERVER – Backup and Restore Database Using Command Prompt – SQLCMD
Good DBAs automate the boring work. Here is a simple script to run Backup and Restore of a database from the command prompt with SQLCMD.