Simple Recovery Model

  • What high availability options are available for those of us that just use the simple recovery model on our databases outside of manually taking a backup and manually restoring the backup to a second server?

  • Triality (6/6/2011)


    What high availability options are available for those of us that just use the simple recovery model on our databases outside of manually taking a backup and manually restoring the backup to a second server?

    Well, you could build a cluster - that does not require full recovery model. However, that would be a lot more expensive than switching to full recovery model and setting up regular (every 15 minute) transaction log backups.

    What are your concerns about switching to full recovery model?

    Jeffrey Williams
    “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”

    ― Charles R. Swindoll

    How to post questions to get better answers faster
    Managing Transaction Logs

  • I think it's just a little more difficult to manage the servers. I am completely new to this whole "DBA" thing but it has become my responsibility in the organization. Trying to keep things as simple as possible to begin with. It's a data warehouse type environment where we load new data a couple of times per month.

    I think with clusters you need shared storage correct? The server we are running has 24 internal SAS 600GB drives. I would again rather stay away from shared storage...

  • To answer your question... just clustering.

    The other available options:

    1. Shipping the transaction log: requires Bulk Logged for Full recovery models.

    2. Mirroring: requires Full recovery model.

    It's a lot easier to manage database in the FULL recovery model than it is to manage a cluster. A cluster requires hardware and drivers signed for clusters, and as you noted, shared storage (major expense).

    Wayne
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
    Author - SQL Server T-SQL Recipes


    If you can't explain to another person how the code that you're copying from the internet works, then DON'T USE IT on a production system! After all, you will be the one supporting it!
    Links:
    For better assistance in answering your questions
    Performance Problems
    Common date/time routines
    Understanding and Using APPLY Part 1 & Part 2

  • There are just scads and scads of articles and books out there on managing log files (I know because I've added to the heap several times). It's not that hard and it's one of the best mechanisms available to you to help ensure your business continuity. My suggestion, ask your business people how much data, in terms of time (1 day, 15 minutes, an hour) they can afford to absolutely lose. Then tell them that the curent set-up only guarantees however often you have the full backups running (daily, weekly?). If there's a mismatch, you should jump on it. That's a RGE (résumé generating event) waiting to happen.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • They are right it is much easier to manage your system in full recovery model. If your wanting to keep your hands out as much as possible you can do logshipping or Mirroring. Both will allow sql server to manage everything for you backup to restore to deleting files. You just have to set up some sort of notification for when it fails database mail or whatever works for your circumstance.

    :cool:

    "There are no problems! Only solutions that have yet to be discovered!"

  • For High Availability you should use

    1-Cluster

    2-Mirroring

    3-Log Shipping

    4-Replication

    For point in time recovery you should use

    1-Full Recovery Model

    Databse Model,its depends on the policy of your organization ,how much data loss they can bare

    Regards,
    Syed Jahanzaib Bin Hassan
    BSCS | MCTS | MCITP | OCA | OCP | OCE | SCJP | IBMCDBA

    My Blog
    www.aureus-salah.com

  • WayneS (6/6/2011)


    To answer your question... just clustering.

    The other available options:

    1. Shipping the transaction log: requires Bulk Logged for Full recovery models.

    2. Mirroring: requires Full recovery model.

    It's a lot easier to manage database in the FULL recovery model than it is to manage a cluster. A cluster requires hardware and drivers signed for clusters, and as you noted, shared storage (major expense).

    i agree!!!


    [font="Times New Roman"]rfr.ferrari[/font]
    DBA - SQL Server 2008
    MCITP | MCTS

    remember is live or suffer twice!
    the period you fastest growing is the most difficult period of your life!
  • Triality (6/6/2011)


    It's a data warehouse type environment where we load new data a couple of times per month.

    If you only have changes to your database that often, then you don't need full recovery. Just schedule a full backup to take place immediately after your batch load.

    John

  • Thanks for everyone's input! I am going to go ahead and switch to full recovery model and do some reading on log shipping and mirroring!

  • Make sure you schedule log backups

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Triality (6/9/2011)


    Thanks for everyone's input! I am going to go ahead and switch to full recovery model and do some reading on log shipping and mirroring!

    this links, contents very information:

    - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187103.aspx for log shipping,

    - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189852.aspx for mirroring,

    - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187016.aspx for mirrong with log shipping!


    [font="Times New Roman"]rfr.ferrari[/font]
    DBA - SQL Server 2008
    MCITP | MCTS

    remember is live or suffer twice!
    the period you fastest growing is the most difficult period of your life!

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply