Introduction to SQL Server Database Restore

To recover a SQL Server database from a failure, a database administrator has to restore a set of SQL Server backups in a logically correct and meaningful restore sequence. SQL Server restore and recovery supports restoring data from backups of a whole database, a data file, or a data page, as follows:

• The database (a complete database restore)The whole database is restored and recovered, and the database is offline for the duration of the restore and recovery operations.
• The data file (a file restore)A data file or a set of files is restored and recovered. During a file restore, the filegroups that contain the files are automatically offline for the duration of the restore. Any attempt to access an offline filegroup causes an error.
• The data page (a page restore)Under the full recovery model or bulk-logged recovery model, you can restore individual databases. Page restores can be performed on any database, regardless of the number of filegroups.

Restoring a full database

RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks2012
  FROM AdventureWorks2012Backups;

Restoring full and differential database backups

RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks2012
    FROM DISK = 'Z:\SQLServerBackups\AdventureWorks2012.bak'
    WITH FILE = 6
      NORECOVERY;
RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks2012
    FROM DISK = 'Z:\SQLServerBackups\AdventureWorks2012.bak'
    WITH FILE = 9
      RECOVERY;

Restoring a database and move files

RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks2012
    FROM AdventureWorksBackups
    WITH NORECOVERY,
      MOVE 'AdventureWorks2012_Data' TO
'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Data\NewAdvWorks.mdf',
      MOVE 'AdventureWorks2012_Log'
TO 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Data\NewAdvWorks.ldf';
RESTORE LOG AdventureWorks2012
    FROM AdventureWorksBackups
    WITH RECOVERY;

Copying a database using BACKUP and RESTORE

BACKUP DATABASE AdventureWorks2012
    TO AdventureWorksBackups ;

RESTORE FILELISTONLY
    FROM AdventureWorksBackups ;

RESTORE DATABASE TestDB
    FROM AdventureWorksBackups
    WITH MOVE 'AdventureWorks2012_Data' TO 'C:\MySQLServer\testdb.mdf',
    MOVE 'AdventureWorks2012_Log' TO 'C:\MySQLServer\testdb.ldf';
GO

Restoring to a point-in-time using STOPAT

RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks2012
    FROM AdventureWorksBackups
    WITH FILE=3, NORECOVERY;

RESTORE LOG AdventureWorks2012
    FROM AdventureWorksBackups
    WITH FILE=4, NORECOVERY, STOPAT = 'Apr 15, 2020 12:00 AM';

RESTORE LOG AdventureWorks2012
    FROM AdventureWorksBackups
    WITH FILE=5, NORECOVERY, STOPAT = 'Apr 15, 2020 12:00 AM';
RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks2012 WITH RECOVERY;

Restoring the transaction log to a mark

USE AdventureWorks2012
GO
BEGIN TRANSACTION ListPriceUpdate
    WITH MARK 'UPDATE Product list prices';
GO

UPDATE Production.Product
    SET ListPrice = ListPrice * 1.10
    WHERE ProductNumber LIKE 'BK-%';
GO

COMMIT TRANSACTION ListPriceUpdate;
GO

-- Time passes. Regular database
-- and log backups are taken.
-- An error occurs in the database.
USE master;
GO

RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks2012
FROM AdventureWorksBackups
WITH FILE = 3, NORECOVERY;
GO

RESTORE LOG AdventureWorks2012
  FROM AdventureWorksBackups
    WITH FILE = 4,
    RECOVERY,
    STOPATMARK = ListPriceUpdate;

Restoring using TAPE syntax

RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks2012
    FROM TAPE = '\\.\tape0';

Restoring using FILE and FILEGROUP syntax

RESTORE DATABASE MyDatabase
    FILE = 'MyDatabase_data_1',
    FILE = 'MyDatabase_data_2',
    FILEGROUP = 'new_customers'
    FROM MyDatabaseBackups
    WITH
      FILE = 9,
      NORECOVERY;
GO  
-- Restore the log backups
RESTORE LOG MyDatabase
    FROM MyDatabaseBackups
    WITH FILE = 10,
      NORECOVERY;
GO
RESTORE LOG MyDatabase
    FROM MyDatabaseBackups
    WITH FILE = 11,
      NORECOVERY;
GO
RESTORE LOG MyDatabase
    FROM MyDatabaseBackups
    WITH FILE = 12,
      NORECOVERY;
GO
--Recover the database
RESTORE DATABASE MyDatabase WITH RECOVERY;
GO

Restoring from the Microsoft Azure Blob storage service

RESTORE DATABASE Sales
  FROM URL = 'https://mystorageaccount.blob.core.windows.net/mysecondcontainer/Sales.bak'
  WITH MOVE 'Sales_Data1' to 'https://mystorageaccount.blob.core.windows.net/myfirstcontainer/Sales_Data1.mdf',
  MOVE 'Sales_log' to 'https://mystorageaccount.blob.core.windows.net/myfirstcontainer/Sales_log.ldf',
  STATS = 10;

RESTORE DATABASE Sales
  FROM URL = 'https://mystorageaccount.blob.core.windows.net/mysecondcontainer/Sales.bak'
  WITH MOVE 'Sales_Data1' to 'H:\DATA\Sales_Data1.mdf',
  MOVE 'Sales_log' to 'O:\LOG\Sales_log.ldf',
  STATS = 10;

RESTORE DATABASE Sales
  FROM DISK = 'E:\BAK\Sales.bak'
  WITH MOVE 'Sales_Data1' to 'https://mystorageaccount.blob.core.windows.net/myfirstcontainer/Sales_Data1.mdf',
  MOVE 'Sales_log' to 'https://mystorageaccount.blob.core.windows.net/myfirstcontainer/Sales_log.ldf',
  STATS = 10;

This command enables you to perform the following restore scenarios:

• Restore an entire database from a full database backup (a complete restore).
• Restore part of a database (a partial restore).
• Restore specific files or filegroups to a database (a file restore).
• Restore specific pages to a database (a page restore).
• Restore a transaction log onto a database (a transaction log restore).
• Revert a database to the point in time captured by a database snapshot.

--To Restore an Entire Database from a Full database backup (a Complete Restore):
RESTORE DATABASE { database_name | @database_name_var }
 [ FROM <backup_device> [ ,...n ] ]
 [ WITH
   {
    [ RECOVERY | NORECOVERY | STANDBY =
        {standby_file_name | @standby_file_name_var }
       ]
   | ,  <general_WITH_options> [ ,...n ]
   | , <replication_WITH_option>
   | , <change_data_capture_WITH_option>
   | , <FILESTREAM_WITH_option>
   | , <service_broker_WITH options>
   | , \<point_in_time_WITH_options-RESTORE_DATABASE>
   } [ ,...n ]
 ]
[;]

--To perform the first step of the initial restore sequence of a piecemeal restore:
RESTORE DATABASE { database_name | @database_name_var }
   <files_or_filegroups> [ ,...n ]
 [ FROM <backup_device> [ ,...n ] ]
   WITH
      PARTIAL, NORECOVERY
      [  , <general_WITH_options> [ ,...n ]
       | , \<point_in_time_WITH_options-RESTORE_DATABASE>
      ] [ ,...n ]
[;]  

--To Restore Specific Files or Filegroups:
RESTORE DATABASE { database_name | @database_name_var }
   <file_or_filegroup> [ ,...n ]
 [ FROM <backup_device> [ ,...n ] ]
   WITH
   {
      [ RECOVERY | NORECOVERY ]
      [ , <general_WITH_options> [ ,...n ] ]
   } [ ,...n ]
[;]  

--To Restore Specific Pages:
RESTORE DATABASE { database_name | @database_name_var }
   PAGE = 'file:page [ ,...n ]'
 [ , <file_or_filegroups> ] [ ,...n ]
 [ FROM <backup_device> [ ,...n ] ]
   WITH
       NORECOVERY
      [ , <general_WITH_options> [ ,...n ] ]
[;]

--To Restore a Transaction Log:
RESTORE LOG { database_name | @database_name_var }
 [ <file_or_filegroup_or_pages> [ ,...n ] ]
 [ FROM <backup_device> [ ,...n ] ]
 [ WITH
   {
     [ RECOVERY | NORECOVERY | STANDBY =
        {standby_file_name | @standby_file_name_var }
       ]
    | , <general_WITH_options> [ ,...n ]
    | , <replication_WITH_option>
    | , \<point_in_time_WITH_options-RESTORE_LOG>
   } [ ,...n ]
 ]
[;]

--To Revert a Database to a Database Snapshot:
RESTORE DATABASE { database_name | @database_name_var }
FROM DATABASE_SNAPSHOT = database_snapshot_name

<backup_device>::=
{
   { logical_backup_device_name |
      @logical_backup_device_name_var }
 | { DISK
     | TAPE
     | URL
   } = { 'physical_backup_device_name' |
      @physical_backup_device_name_var }
}
Note: URL is the format used to specify the location and the file name for the Microsoft Azure Blob. Although Microsoft Azure storage is a service, the implementation is similar to disk and tape to allow for a consistent and seamless restore experience for all the three devices.
<files_or_filegroups>::=
{
   FILE = { logical_file_name_in_backup | @logical_file_name_in_backup_var }
 | FILEGROUP = { logical_filegroup_name | @logical_filegroup_name_var }
 | READ_WRITE_FILEGROUPS
}

<general_WITH_options> [ ,...n ]::=
--Restore Operation Options
   MOVE 'logical_file_name_in_backup' TO 'operating_system_file_name'
          [ ,...n ]
 | REPLACE
 | RESTART
 | RESTRICTED_USER | CREDENTIAL

--Backup Set Options
 | FILE = { backup_set_file_number | @backup_set_file_number }
 | PASSWORD = { password | @password_variable }

--Media Set Options
 | MEDIANAME = { media_name | @media_name_variable }
 | MEDIAPASSWORD = { mediapassword | @mediapassword_variable }
 | BLOCKSIZE = { blocksize | @blocksize_variable }

--Data Transfer Options
 | BUFFERCOUNT = { buffercount | @buffercount_variable }
 | MAXTRANSFERSIZE = { maxtransfersize | @maxtransfersize_variable }

--Error Management Options
 | { CHECKSUM | NO_CHECKSUM }
 | { STOP_ON_ERROR | CONTINUE_AFTER_ERROR }

--Monitoring Options
 | STATS [ = percentage ]

--Tape Options.
 | { REWIND | NOREWIND }
 | { UNLOAD | NOUNLOAD }

<replication_WITH_option>::=
 | KEEP_REPLICATION

<change_data_capture_WITH_option>::=
 | KEEP_CDC

<FILESTREAM_WITH_option>::=
 | FILESTREAM ( DIRECTORY_NAME = directory_name )

<service_broker_WITH_options>::=
 | ENABLE_BROKER
 | ERROR_BROKER_CONVERSATIONS
 | NEW_BROKER

\<point_in_time_WITH_options-RESTORE_DATABASE>::=
 | {
   STOPAT = { 'datetime'| @datetime_var }
 | STOPATMARK = 'lsn:lsn_number'
                 [ AFTER 'datetime']
 | STOPBEFOREMARK = 'lsn:lsn_number'
                 [ AFTER 'datetime']
   }

\<point_in_time_WITH_options-RESTORE_LOG>::=
 | {
   STOPAT = { 'datetime'| @datetime_var }
 | STOPATMARK = { 'mark_name' | 'lsn:lsn_number' }
                 [ AFTER 'datetime']
 | STOPBEFOREMARK = { 'mark_name' | 'lsn:lsn_number' }
                 [ AFTER 'datetime']
   }