Can I clone a database across servers?

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Can I clone a database across servers?

SQL Guy 1

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November 30, 2020 at 8:16 pm

#3815303

Hi all,
I have a database that resides on server A and I need to create its clone on server B. I am using DBCC clonedatabase command. I have a linked server from B to A. And I can create an opposite linked server too, from A to B.
Is it possible, and if yes, how?
Thanks

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Mike01 SSChampion Points: 11395 More actions · Answer 1

I'm not sure that will work. The CloseDatabase command takes source_database_name and target_database_name as parameters, so it creates a read-only copy on the same server.

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Ant-Green SSC Guru Points: 113507 More actions · Answer 2

DBCC CLONEDATABASE is not multi server, it copies it to the same server so won’t meet your requirements.

Automate a backup restore operation using the traditional backup routines or use bacpac etc to do it or powershell.

I would strongly recommend getting the DBATools powershell module for this and using the cmdlets in that, DBATools makes life so much easier these days.

Jeffrey Williams SSC Guru Points: 90303 More actions · Answer 3

What is the purpose of this secondary copy of the database? There are several options available - depending on what you intend to do with that copy.

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

― Charles R. Swindoll

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Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004324 More actions · Answer 4

If both databases live on the same SAN, checkout the documentation for the SAN... it may have the ability to do a "SAN Snapshot", which is incredibly fast and doesn't have to live on the same server... just the same SAN.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

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