Are the posted questions getting worse?

  • GilaMonster (12/29/2011)


    Grant Fritchey (12/27/2011)


    Based on the fact that we can't get people to run good sets of backups despite Umptymillion articles, blog posts, presentations, webcasts and screaming lightning talks, I don't think you're going to be giving away the secrets of the universe.

    You mean like this: http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1227066-146-1.aspx

    Ouch

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • GilaMonster (12/29/2011)


    Grant Fritchey (12/27/2011)


    Based on the fact that we can't get people to run good sets of backups despite Umptymillion articles, blog posts, presentations, webcasts and screaming lightning talks, I don't think you're going to be giving away the secrets of the universe.

    You mean like this: http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1227066-146-1.aspx

    It kills me that people still think drive backups will solve all problems database-related.

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

  • Brandie Tarvin (12/29/2011)


    GilaMonster (12/29/2011)


    Grant Fritchey (12/27/2011)


    Based on the fact that we can't get people to run good sets of backups despite Umptymillion articles, blog posts, presentations, webcasts and screaming lightning talks, I don't think you're going to be giving away the secrets of the universe.

    You mean like this: http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1227066-146-1.aspx

    It kills me that people still think drive backups will solve all problems database-related.

    Network admins win too many of those arguments.

    In this case, it does seem that they were managing DB backups through the Tivoli DB Agent (they had data and tran log backups) but they hadn't maintained the backup job(s).

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • GilaMonster (12/29/2011)


    Grant Fritchey (12/27/2011)


    Based on the fact that we can't get people to run good sets of backups despite Umptymillion articles, blog posts, presentations, webcasts and screaming lightning talks, I don't think you're going to be giving away the secrets of the universe.

    You mean like this: http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1227066-146-1.aspx

    Yeah. I saw that one yesterday and decided to stay away from it. Didn't see much hope for it turning out well, no matter what was done.

    - Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
    Property of The Thread

    "Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon

  • I thought some "Magic" (recovery trick) will happen & that DB will be saved. It’s a nice learning opportunity that I missed. However the lessons learnt today (reminder actually), keep your DB and Backups in good shape & ensure it with proper restoration scenarios Else nobody (even experts here) can help.

  • Dev (12/29/2011)


    I thought some "Magic" (recovery trick) will happen & that DB will be saved. It’s a nice learning opportunity that I missed. However the lessons learnt today (reminder actually), keep your DB and Backups in good shape & ensure it with proper restoration scenarios Else nobody (even experts here) can help.

    Yep. No substitute for tested backups. Simple as that.

    - Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
    Property of The Thread

    "Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon

  • GSquared (12/29/2011)


    Dev (12/29/2011)


    I thought some "Magic" (recovery trick) will happen & that DB will be saved. It’s a nice learning opportunity that I missed. However the lessons learnt today (reminder actually), keep your DB and Backups in good shape & ensure it with proper restoration scenarios Else nobody (even experts here) can help.

    Yep. No substitute for tested backups. Simple as that.

    Speaking of which, where do you all test your backups? Prod Server, Dev Server, Test Server, special server just to test backup restores?

    --------------------------------------
    When you encounter a problem, if the solution isn't readily evident go back to the start and check your assumptions.
    --------------------------------------
    It’s unpleasantly like being drunk.
    What’s so unpleasant about being drunk?
    You ask a glass of water. -- Douglas Adams

  • Stefan Krzywicki (12/29/2011)


    GSquared (12/29/2011)


    Dev (12/29/2011)


    I thought some "Magic" (recovery trick) will happen & that DB will be saved. It’s a nice learning opportunity that I missed. However the lessons learnt today (reminder actually), keep your DB and Backups in good shape & ensure it with proper restoration scenarios Else nobody (even experts here) can help.

    Yep. No substitute for tested backups. Simple as that.

    Speaking of which, where do you all test your backups? Prod Server, Dev Server, Test Server, special server just to test backup restores?

    One placed we worked we did a nightly restore of the database to either report servers or to our warehouse. Sure replication or logshipping would have worked for some of those servers - but it helped test the backup every night.

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • Stefan Krzywicki (12/29/2011)


    GSquared (12/29/2011)


    Dev (12/29/2011)


    I thought some "Magic" (recovery trick) will happen & that DB will be saved. It’s a nice learning opportunity that I missed. However the lessons learnt today (reminder actually), keep your DB and Backups in good shape & ensure it with proper restoration scenarios Else nobody (even experts here) can help.

    Yep. No substitute for tested backups. Simple as that.

    Speaking of which, where do you all test your backups? Prod Server, Dev Server, Test Server, special server just to test backup restores?

    Test Server off course. But it needs to be done once in a year on PROD server, a FULL backup as per company policy.

  • We have a Special server where we restore, Scrub the data and then back up this DB abd send it over to development team.

    -Roy

  • Stefan Krzywicki (12/29/2011)


    GSquared (12/29/2011)


    Dev (12/29/2011)


    I thought some "Magic" (recovery trick) will happen & that DB will be saved. It’s a nice learning opportunity that I missed. However the lessons learnt today (reminder actually), keep your DB and Backups in good shape & ensure it with proper restoration scenarios Else nobody (even experts here) can help.

    Yep. No substitute for tested backups. Simple as that.

    Speaking of which, where do you all test your backups? Prod Server, Dev Server, Test Server, special server just to test backup restores?

    Breaking the "no tech in The Thread" rule, it has depended on the setup I have.

    Right now, I test by restoring to the production server, with a new database name. Then test the restored database and then drop it. I have room for that on the data and log drives, and the CPU and other resources needed for it are available. That's best, because it means I've tested the ability to restore where I'm most likely to need to do so.

    Other times, I've tested restores on other servers. One job, I did the tests at the DR site. Good idea to test those too, anyway. Another, I had to test on my desktop (Dev Edition installed there), because there were no resources to do otherwise.

    - Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
    Property of The Thread

    "Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon

  • Dev (12/29/2011)


    Stefan Krzywicki (12/29/2011)


    GSquared (12/29/2011)


    Dev (12/29/2011)


    I thought some "Magic" (recovery trick) will happen & that DB will be saved. It’s a nice learning opportunity that I missed. However the lessons learnt today (reminder actually), keep your DB and Backups in good shape & ensure it with proper restoration scenarios Else nobody (even experts here) can help.

    Yep. No substitute for tested backups. Simple as that.

    Speaking of which, where do you all test your backups? Prod Server, Dev Server, Test Server, special server just to test backup restores?

    Test Server off course. But it needs to be done once in a year on PROD server, a FULL backup as per company policy.

    Just to explain my previous post correctly (I guess its required), Test Server != QA Server. It's a Special Server (just like Roy's last post) assigned to DBAs for simulating PROD environment.

  • GilaMonster (12/29/2011)


    Grant Fritchey (12/27/2011)


    Based on the fact that we can't get people to run good sets of backups despite Umptymillion articles, blog posts, presentations, webcasts and screaming lightning talks, I don't think you're going to be giving away the secrets of the universe.

    You mean like this: http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1227066-146-1.aspx

    It's just creepy. Seriously creepy just how often this occurs. You keep thinking that people will learn but they never seem to without having a giant wall fall on them first.

    "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

  • Dev (12/29/2011)


    Dev (12/29/2011)


    Stefan Krzywicki (12/29/2011)


    GSquared (12/29/2011)


    Dev (12/29/2011)


    I thought some "Magic" (recovery trick) will happen & that DB will be saved. It’s a nice learning opportunity that I missed. However the lessons learnt today (reminder actually), keep your DB and Backups in good shape & ensure it with proper restoration scenarios Else nobody (even experts here) can help.

    Yep. No substitute for tested backups. Simple as that.

    Speaking of which, where do you all test your backups? Prod Server, Dev Server, Test Server, special server just to test backup restores?

    Test Server off course. But it needs to be done once in a year on PROD server, a FULL backup as per company policy.

    Just to explain my previous post correctly (I guess its required), Test Server != QA Server. It's a Special Server (just like Roy's last post) assigned to DBAs for simulating PROD environment.

    Yeah, we're just getting a dev server here now and I'm forced to find another place to test backups as there's no longer room on the dev server. That's all we'd been using it for, but now that we're setting up an actual dev environment, there's no space for testing restores. There's also no room to do that on the Prod machine and we don't have a test or qa machine. That's why I was curious about the setup others have to do that kind of test. I don't have room on my machine either.

    --------------------------------------
    When you encounter a problem, if the solution isn't readily evident go back to the start and check your assumptions.
    --------------------------------------
    It’s unpleasantly like being drunk.
    What’s so unpleasant about being drunk?
    You ask a glass of water. -- Douglas Adams

  • Stefan Krzywicki (12/29/2011)


    GSquared (12/29/2011)


    Dev (12/29/2011)


    I thought some "Magic" (recovery trick) will happen & that DB will be saved. It’s a nice learning opportunity that I missed. However the lessons learnt today (reminder actually), keep your DB and Backups in good shape & ensure it with proper restoration scenarios Else nobody (even experts here) can help.

    Yep. No substitute for tested backups. Simple as that.

    Speaking of which, where do you all test your backups? Prod Server, Dev Server, Test Server, special server just to test backup restores?

    We had a set of staging servers that matched production for the really important databases. Those were restored nightly from our backups, so we had a test platform and a tested backup at the same time.

    "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

Viewing 15 posts - 32,941 through 32,955 (of 66,712 total)

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