SQL Server Backup, Recovery and Troubleshooting

SQL Server Backup, Recovery and Troubleshooting
by Christopher Kempster
Copyright 2004
Publisher's Website

There have been many books written about SQL Server backup, but most have been poor, mostly regurgitating what you can find in SQL Server's Books Online. Finally, there has been a book written about SQL Server backup and restore that is original, and very practical, and that is Christopher Kempster's book, SQL Server Backup, Recovery and Troubleshooting.

Unfortunately, the title is a poor choice. It would have better been titled "SQL Server Disaster Recovery Planning and Implementation." The existing title gives the impression that the book only covers backups and restores, but this is not the case. It covers disaster recovery, clustering, log shipping, backing up and restoring files, in addition to many other very useful topics.

This 345 page e-book covers these major topics:

• Planning and Preparation

• Change Control (Using VSS)

• Theory and Essential Scripts

• High Availability (including Clustering and Log Shipping)

• Troubleshooting SQL Clusters

• Backup

• Recovery and Troubleshooting (Great chapter!)

When you first review the table of contents, and begin to read the book, the organization of the book's content seems (at least to me) to be a little odd. But the useful information you find more than makes up for any oddity in the book's organization. In fact, as you read the book, you will want to take down notes of the many useful bits of knowledge you run across, so you can immediately apply them. In addition, there is plenty of information in the book that you can use to prepare that SQL Server disaster recovery plan you have been wanting to put together, but just have never found the time to pursue.

I do want to note that the sections on clustering in this book are good, but not 100% complete. If you are new to clustering, you will want to review additional resources before you set up your own cluster. On the other hand, the chapter on Troubleshooting SQL Clusters is very good, and should be read by all those who manage a SQL Server cluster.

I highly recommend this e-book to all new DBAs, and in fact, many experienced DBAs will find new information in this book that will be of use to them in their work.