Creating SQL Server Recovery Points

Applies to: SQL block-level backups, Application-Aware backups, and IntelliSnap backups.

Before you restore individual tables from a SQL Server database block-level backup, you create recovery points from which you can restore. When you create a recovery point, the software mounts and attaches the database that you will use for the restore. When you create a recovery point, you save time when you perform the actual table restore.

You can create SQL recovery points on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 and higher versions.

The following rules apply to SQL recovery points:

• You can create a recovery point for a single database.

• The destination client must have the MediaAgent and SQL packages installed and an SQL instance that has the same or higher version than the source instance.

• Cluster clients cannot be selected as a destination for a recovery point.

• Creating a recovery point initiates a job type called Create Recovery Point. After you create the job, you have the option to monitor the status of the job. The recovery point job has two states: In Progress and Ready.

  • When the job state is In Progress, the snapshot is mounted.

  • When the state is Ready, you can restore tables.

  Each recovery point has an expiration date. By default, the recovery point expires after one day (24 hours). If you keep a recovery point for an extended amount of time, make sure that you have enough hardware resources or disk space to maintain that recovery point.

Before You Begin

You must have one of the following backups:

• IntelliSnap backups

• Performing a Block-Level Backup Operation on SQL Databases

• Application Aware backups

Procedure

1. From the CommCell Console, expand Client Computers > client > SQL Server.

2. Right-click the instance, and then click All Tasks > Browse and Restore.

   The Browse and Restore Options dialog box appears.

3. On the Advanced Options tab, select SQL Granular Browse, and then click View Content.

4. In the left pane of the Client Browse window, perform one of the following steps depending on the database that you want to restore:

   • Select a SQL database for which you want to create a recovery point, and then click Restore Granular.

   • Select the SharePoint content database for which you want to create a recovery point, and then click Restore Granular.

   The Attach SQL Database dialog box appears.

5. In the New Database Name box, type the new database name.

6. Determine how long you want to keep the recovery point:

   • For IntelliSnap backups, in the For snap backups, dismount the image after n days box, enter the number of days after which the recovery point expires.

   • For block-level backups, in the For block-level backups, expire after n days box, enter the number of days after which the recovery point expires.

     Tip

     You can change the expiration date from the Recovery Points dialog box after the recovery point is created and in a Ready state.

7. From the SQL Proxy Client list, select the MediaAgent that performs the snapshot mount.

8. From the Destination Server list, select the SQL instance where the database is attached.

9. Click OK.

   A message appears that displays the job ID number.

10. Do either of the following:

    • Click List Recovery Points to open the Recovery Points dialog box.

    • Click OK to close the message.

What to Do Next

Open the Recovery Points dialog box, to do any of the following:

• View the job status of the active recovery points.

• Open the Browse window and recover individual tables.

• Change the expiration date of a recovery point.

• Delete a recovery point.