You are considering a new disk based backup...

Why bother with backup?

Backing up SQL Server data is like many of the things we do because we figure we need to. It is good for you, like eating a good diet and getting exercise. Unfortunately, folks are often about as successful with SQL Server backups as they are with diet and exercise.

This is the first in a series of articles covering SQL Server database backup. The series starts from the very basics of why database backup is important. The question of why to backup a database can inform many other decisions.

You are trying for a new job and...

You are backing up your SQL Server 2000...

You are trying to recover the database server...

Your SQL Server has just crashed and it's...

Worst Practice - Detailed Disaster Plans

Another in our series of things you should avoid at all costs. Seems silly at first, not having a detailed recovery plan for your SQL Server. Perhaps it is, but having dealt with any number of problems over the last few years, Steve Jones has some ideas why a detailed plan may not be the best thing to spend your time on.

Incident Response - Responding to an Incident

Part 2 of Steve Jones' Incident Response series that looks at how you should be prepared as well as what to do when disaster strikes. Part 1 established a basic framework and part 2 dives deeper into what you might need for the next virus, hardware failure, or hurricane :(.

You are the DBA for a large company...

Incident Response - The Framework

Do you have a SQL Server disaster plan? What about something less than a disaster? Steve Jones has worked more than his share of disasters or incidents, some of them self-inflicted. He's taken some of his experience and started a new series looking at a framework for dealing with incidents. Read part 1 about getting prepared.