Mounting and Linking a Content Database
There are two ways to restore SharePoint objects - by mounting a content database that contains the object(s) to restore, and by creating a link to an already-mounted content database. From there, components can be granular-restored. Older versions of Metalogix Backup for SharePoint enabled users to create their own granular backups. These backups can be used to restore objects as well.
Mounting or linking content databases is done through the use of the Mount and Link Content Database Wizard. The wizard mounts content databases from BAK files, MDF/LDF files, Metalogix Farm Backups or SharePoint Full Farm Backups, or creates a link to a content database that has already been mounted. This operation allows you to copy the selected files to a staging location if the Backup Service does not have permission to access these files. The following are the mount source types:
·SQL Server Backup (BAK) File - including full, differential, and transaction log
·SQL Server Data and Log (MDF/LDF) File
If you use a staging path while mounting a content database, the staging path used must be located on a machine where the Backup Service user is a local administrator, otherwise you cannot mount the database.
|
|
NOTE: The SQL server Backup Service is used to mount content databases by default. To allow other Backup Services (such as the primary or secondary Backup Service) to perform the mount instead, reorder the preferred mounting services using the "priorityMountOperation" key in the PBManagementService configuration file accordingly. |
Mounting Metalogix Full Farm Backup
The Full Farm Backup option allows you to mount content databases on farm backups that have been taken by the Metalogix Backup for SharePoint product.
To mount a Full Farm Backup, do the following:
1.From the Management Console workspace selector click Granular Restore.
2.Launch the Content Database Mount and Link Wizard by doing one of the following:
·Click the Overview tab and then click Mount and Link Content Database from the ribbon.
·Click the Import and Mount tab and choose the Mount and Link Content Database from the ribbon.
3.Click Next in the Content Database Mount and Link Wizard Welcome step. The Source Type step appears.
4.Select Metalogix Full Farm Backup as the content database source type.
5.Click Next. The Target SQL Server step appears.
a.Enter the name of a SQL Server, or click Browse and select a SQL Server.
b.For authentication, either use the Backup Service credentials or enter the server's credentials.
6.Click Next. The Backup Objects step appears.
7.Click the Full farm backup sets available drop down and select a backup set. Select the content database that you wish to mount.
8.Click Next. The Options step appears.
9.Enter a content database mount name and a description. If the backup was created using Microsoft SQL Server Filestream, select the checkbox Filestream folder path and specify the location.
10.Click Next. The Target Farm step appears
11.Select the target farm if there are more than one target SharePoint farms with the same version as the backup set. This drop down appears disabled if there is only one farm with the same version as the backup set.
12.Click Next. The Summary step appears.
13.Click Mount to mount the Metalogix Full Farm Backup.
14.You can now view the mount operation details of the mounted content database from the Overview tab and view the contents of the backup set from the Import and Mount tab.
Mounting a SQL Server Backup (BAK) File
The SQL Server Backup (BAK) File option mounts databases from a SQL server .BAK files. This option includes full, differential, and transaction log backups. You can mount several .BAK files of the same content database.
In order to mount a SQL Server Backup File, do the following:
1.From the Management Console workspace selector click Granular Restore.
2.Launch the Content Database Mount and Link Wizard by doing one of the following:
·Click the Overview tab and then click Mount and Link Content Database from the ribbon.
·Click the Import and Mount tab and choose the Mount and Link Content Database from the ribbon.
3.Click Next in the Content Database Mount and Link Wizard Welcome step. The Source Type step appears.
4.Select SQL Server Backup (BAK) File - including Full, Differential, and Transaction logs.
5.Click Next. The Target SQL Server step appears.
6.Enter the name of a SQL Server, or click Browse and select a SQL Server. Either use the Backup Service credentials or enter the server's credentials.
7.Click Next. The BAK Import Options step appears.
8.Select the method by which you would like to locate full backups, differential backups, and transaction logs.
·If you selected Search for backup by Name, Date, Time, and Backup type please continue to the Search for Backup section for further instructions.
·If you selected Browse Directly to Backup Files please continue to the Browse for Backup section for further instructions.
Search for Backup
1.In the Search SQL Backup step, use the available search parameters to find specific full, differential, and transition log backups. You can search by name, date, backup set type and SQL Server. Select a Backup and click Next.
Metalogix Backups are available and can be identified by (Metalogix) in the Backupset Name. This can be used to search.
The Metalogix backup is not to be selected. Otherwise an error message will be displayed.
The Transaction Log needs to be selected to use Metalogix Backups with SQL backup options.
2.In the Options step, enter a Content Database Mount Name, and a Content Database Mount Description. Select the location for the SQL data files from the drop down list, and enter the Password and/or Media Password for any backups that were created with passwords. Click Next to continue.
3.In the Target Farm step, select the target farm. Click Next.
4.In the Summary step, click Mount to mount the BAK File.
5.You can now view the mount operation details of the mounted content database from the Overview tab and view the contents of the backup set from the Import and Mount tab.