Creating SharePoint Server Recovery Points

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

Before you restore individual databases from a 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 content database restore.

The following rules apply to SharePoint recovery points:

• You can create a recovery point for a single database on SharePoint 2013 and later versions.

• 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:

• Performing a Block-Level Backup Operation on SharePoint Content Databases

• Application-Aware Backups for Microsoft SharePoint

Procedure

1. From the CommCell Browser, expand Client Computers > client > SharePoint Server > Databases.

2. Right click the subclient, and then click Browse and Restore.

   The Browse and Restore Options dialog box appears.

3. Click View Content.

4. Select the SharePoint content databases that you want to restore, and then click Restore Granular.

   The Attach SharePoint 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 Client list, select a stand-alone SQL server to mount the recovery point.

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.