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NetVault Plug-in for SQL Server 12.0 - User Guide

Introducing NetVault Backup Plug-in for SQL Server Planning your SQL Server deployment Installing and removing the plug-in Configuring the plug-in Backing up data
Defining a backup strategy Understanding snapshot-based backups Reviewing the compression features Performing Online VDI backups Performing VSS backups in SQL Server Example of creating a full VDI backup of an AlwaysOn Availability Group
Restoring data Troubleshooting

Restoring data to a Virtual Client in an AlwaysOn Availability Group

The following topics list the high-level steps for restoring data in AlwaysOn Availability Group deployments and provide examples of different restores.

•
High-level restore steps for restoring data to a Virtual Client in an AlwaysOn Availability Groups
•
Example of restoring a database that was added to all replicas in an AlwaysOn Availability Group
•
Example of restoring a secondary replica and converting it to a primary replica
•
Example of restoring a VDI backup of an AlwaysOn Availability Group
•
Example of restoring a database that does not exist on the primary replica
High-level restore steps for restoring data to a Virtual Client in an AlwaysOn Availability Groups

These topics describe the general steps that you must take to complete a restore.

Performing a VSS restore of an AlwaysOn Availability Group

When restoring a VSS-based backup, be aware of the following:

•
VSS is a generic interface that requires objects included in the snapshot comply with certain requirements. For example, SQL Server databases that have a status of Restoring conflict with the creation of VSS backup snapshots.
•
SQL Server databases participating in an AlwaysOn Availability Group cannot be included in a VSS restore snapshot, and some operations are not available for databases that are joined in a group.
•
If you use the Copy Database Files to Target Directory option, do not remove the database from the group.
•
As noted previously, a disadvantage of VSS backups is that the SQL Server VSS Writer does not support the ability to restore a database to an alternate instance whether that instance is on the same server and host or an alternate server and host.
•
The following procedure applies if you are restoring the group to its original destination or if you are restoring the group using the Rename/Relocate option. However, if you are performing a restore with rename or relocate, or both, the original database cannot be joined in an AlwaysOn Availability Group.
1
Use SQL Server Management Studio to remove the database from the AlwaysOn Group.
a
On the primary replica, select Suspend Data Movement for the database.
b
On all secondary replicas, remove the database from the group.
c
On the primary replica, remove the database from the group.
2
Restore the primary from the applicable backups.
3
Add the database to the AlwaysOn Availability Group on the primary replica.
4
Add the database to the AlwaysOn Availability Group on each secondary replica.
Performing a VDI restore of an AlwaysOn Availability Group
1
Remove the secondary replicas.
2
Remove the primary replica.
3
Restore the primary from the applicable backups.
4
Using the process for a standalone deployment, perform Full and Differential Transaction Log backups of the primary replica.
5
Using the process for a standalone deployment, perform Full and Differential Transaction Log restores of each secondary replica.
These restores set the secondary replicas to match the primary replica.
6
Add the database to the AlwaysOn Availability Group on the primary replica.
7
Add the database to the AlwaysOn Availability Group on each secondary replica.
Example of restoring a database that was added to all replicas in an AlwaysOn Availability Group

The following procedure describes how to restore a database that was added to the primary replica and all secondary replicas in the AlwaysOn Availability Group.

1
Select the data to restore.
For more information, see Selecting Online VDI data for restore under Restoring data from Online VDI backups or Selecting data for a VSS restore under Restoring data from VSS backups.
As described previously, you cannot use the same job to restore databases from multiple groups. Nor can you use the same job to restore a database that belongs to a group and a different database that does not.
2
On the Create Selection Set page, click Edit Plugin Options, and configure the applicable parameters depending on whether you are performing a VSS or VDI restore.
For information on the options that are common to all restore jobs, see Setting Online VDI restore options under Restoring data from Online VDI backups or Setting VSS restore options under Restoring data from VSS backups.
3
In the AlwaysOn Availability Groups section, select the applicable check box (es):
•
Remove Primary Database from the AlwaysOn Availability Group Before Restore
•
Add Primary Database to the AlwaysOn Availability Group After Restore
Where you are in the process determines which check box (es) you should select. For example, when you run the restore of the Full Backup, select both check boxes. When you run the restore of the Transaction Logs, do not select the check boxes. Also, do not select Add Primary Database to the AlwaysOn Availability Group After Restore if you selected the With NO RECOVERY option.
4
If you previously removed the database from the AlwaysOn Availability Group on the primary node, complete the following fields:
•
Restore to the following AlwaysOn Availability Group: Enter the name of the group.
•
Enter the NetVault Backup Client Name on the AlwaysOn Availability Groups Primary Node (optional): Enter the name of the client that is running on the primary node. If you enter a name for a different node, the restore fails. If you are unsure which client is running on the primary node, use SQL Server Management Studio to determine which node is the primary node in the group.
 
* 
IMPORTANT: Although the second field is labeled optional, it is required in this scenario.

If you enter the correct information and the database is already part of the group, but you do not select the Remove Primary Database from the AlwaysOn Availability Group Before Restore check box, the restore fails.

If the database is not part of the group, you specify an incorrect name, and the plug-in is unable to check that the client resides on the primary replica, the plug-in restores the database. However, you cannot add the database to the group.

If a failover to a different node occurs after the restore job is run and you have entered the primary client and group names, update the information stored in Restore Options to reflect the name of the new client. Otherwise, subsequent runs of the same restore job fail.
5
In the Instance Name, If Restoring to an AlwaysOn Named Instance field, enter the name of the instance.
 
* 
TIP: Only enter the name of the instance. If you enter the fully qualified name, <HostName>\<InstanceName>, the plug-in ignores the hostname.
6
Complete the steps outlined in Finalizing and submitting an Online VDI restore job under Restoring data from Online VDI backups.
7
Perform a Full Database backup from the primary replica.
8
Perform a restore from each secondary replica that was backed up by the Full Database backup performed in Step 7.
Complete a separate restore operation for each secondary replica that makes up the primary replica.
9
Use SQL Server Management Studio to add the secondary replicas to the AlwaysOn Availability Group.
Example of restoring a secondary replica and converting it to a primary replica

The following procedure describes how to restore a secondary replica to a backup taken from the Virtual Client and then convert the secondary replica to function as the primary replica.

1
On the secondary replica, remove the database from the AlwaysOn Availability Group.
2
Select the data to restore.
For more information, see Selecting Online VDI data for restore under Restoring data from Online VDI backups or Selecting data for a VSS restore under Restoring data from VSS backups.
As described previously, you cannot use the same job to restore databases from multiple groups. Nor can you use the same job to restore a database that belongs to a group and a different database that does not.
3
On the Create Selection Set page, click Edit Plugin Options, and configure the applicable parameters depending on whether you are performing a VSS or VDI restore.
For information on the options that are common to all restore jobs, see Setting Online VDI restore options under Restoring data from Online VDI backups or Setting VSS restore options under Restoring data from VSS backups.
4
In the Target Instance field in the Restore Options section, enter the name of the client running on the secondary replica.
5
In the AlwaysOn Availability Groups section, select the applicable check boxes:
•
Remove Primary Database from the AlwaysOn Availability Group Before Restore
•
Add Primary Database to the AlwaysOn Availability Group After Restore
Where you are in the process determines which check boxes you should select. For example, when you run the restore of the Full Backup, select all the check boxes. When you run the restore of the Transaction Logs, do not select the check boxes. Also, do not select Add Primary Database to the AlwaysOn Availability Group After Restore if you selected the With NO RECOVERY option.
6
In Restore to the following AlwaysOn Availability Group, enter the name of the group.
7
In the Instance Name, If Restoring to an AlwaysOn Named Instance field, enter the name of the instance.
 
* 
TIP: Only enter the name of the instance. If you enter the fully qualified name, <HostName>\<InstanceName>, the plug-in ignores the hostname.
8
Complete the steps outlined in Finalizing and submitting an Online VDI restore job under Restoring data from Online VDI backups.
9
Perform a failover to the secondary replica.
10
Use SQL Server Management Studio to identify the secondary replica as the primary replica for all databases assigned to the AlwaysOn Availability Group.
11
Use SQL Server Management Studio to add the database back to the group on the new primary replica.
 
* 
IMPORTANT: To complete this step, you might need to remove the database from the remaining secondary replicas and postpone adding the database to the new primary replica until the process is finished.
12
Perform Full Database and Transaction Log backups of the new primary replica.
13
Perform a restore of each secondary replica using the Full and Transaction Log backups completed in the previous step.
For each secondary replica, remove the database on that node from the AlwaysOn Availability Group, and complete the Full and Transaction Log restores.
14
Use SQL Server Management Studio to add the secondary replicas to the AlwaysOn Availability Group.
Example of restoring a VDI backup of an AlwaysOn Availability Group

The following procedure describes how to restore a VDI backup. This procedure is based on the example described in Example of creating a full VDI backup of an AlwaysOn Availability Group. The following procedure also requires that you restore Transaction Log backups, a process that was not included in the previous backup example.

1
In the Navigation pane, click Create Restore Job.
2
In the saveset table on the Create Restore Job — Choose Saveset page, select the Full Backup of the primary replica that you are restoring, and click Next.
3
On the Create Selection Set page, select the AlwaysOn Availability Group that you want to restore.
Include all databases included in the saveset.
4
Click Edit Plugin Options.
5
In the Restore Type section, select With NO RECOVERY.
6
In the AlwaysOn Availability Groups sections, select the Remove Primary Database from the AlwaysOn Availability Group Before Restore check box.
Do not select the Add Primary Database to the AlwaysOn Availability Group After Restore because you selected the With NO RECOVERY option.
7
Click OK to save the settings, and then click Next.
8
In Job Name, specify a name for the job if you do not want to use the default setting.
9
In the Target Client list, select the same Virtual Client that was the target of the backup.
10
Click Save & Submit, and use the Job Status page to monitor progress.
You might see a “Waiting for secondaries” status for up to 20 minutes. Do not proceed until the Run Status is “Restore Completed.”
11
In the Navigation pane, click Create Restore Job.
12
In the saveset table on the Create Restore Job — Choose Saveset page, select the Incremental Transaction Log backup of the primary replica that you are restoring, and click Next.
13
On the Create Selection Set page, select the same AlwaysOn Availability Group and databases that you selected during the restore of the Full Backup.
14
Click Edit Plugin Options.
15
In the Restore Type section, select With RECOVERY.
16
In the AlwaysOn Availability Groups section, select the Add Primary Database to the AlwaysOn Availability Group After Restore check box.
Do not select the other check boxes.
17
In the Restore to the following AlwaysOn Availability Group field, enter the name of the group.
18
In the Enter the NetVault Backup Client Name on the AlwaysOn Availability Groups Primary Node field, enter the name of the client on the primary node.
Check that you entered the NetVault Backup Virtual Client name; do not enter a different name, such as the host name or SQL Server Instance.
19
If you are restoring the backup to a named SQL Server Instance, not the default instance, enter the name of the instance in the Instance Name, If Restoring to an AlwaysOn Named Instance field.
 
* 
TIP: Only enter the name of the instance. If you enter the fully qualified name, <HostName>\<InstanceName>, the plug-in ignores the hostname.
20
Click OK to save the settings, and then click Next.
21
In Job Name, specify a name for the job if you do not want to use the default setting.
22
In the Target Client list, select the same Virtual Client that was the target of the backup.
23
Click Save & Submit, and use the Job Status page to monitor progress.
Do not proceed until the Run Status is “Restore Completed.”
After the restore of the primary replica is finished, create a backup of the primary replica. After the backup is finished, use the new backup to restore each secondary replica.
24
In the Navigation pane, click Create Backup Job.
25
In Job Name, specify a name for the job.
26
Next to the Selections list, click Create New.
27
In the selection tree, open the first secondary replica that you are restoring, and then open the All Instances node.
The databases that were part of the AlwaysOn Availability Group showing “(Restoring)” after their names.
28
Select the All Instances node, and select Configure from the context menu.
29
Enter the security information, enter the applicable login information, such as (local), for the Instance Name, and click OK.
30
Repeat Step 27 through Step 29 for each secondary replica.
31
In the selection tree for the primary replica, select that databases that you are backing up.
These databases are the same ones identified as “(Restoring)” on the secondary replica.
32
Run a VDI-based, Full Database backup.
33
Using the same Selections set that you used for the Full Database backup, run an Incremental Transaction Log backup.
34
In the Navigation pane, click Create Restore Job.
35
In the saveset table on the Create Restore Job — Choose Saveset page, select the Full Backup of the primary replica that you completed Step 32, and click Next.
36
On the Create Selection Set page, select the databases that you want to restore, and click Edit Plugin Options.
37
In the Restore Type section, select With NO RECOVERY, click OK, and then click Next.
38
In Job Name, specify a name for the job if you do not want to use the default setting.
39
In the Target Client list, select the Virtual Client name of the secondary replica.
40
Click Save & Submit, and use the Job Status page to monitor progress.
41
Repeat Step 34 through Step 40 to restore the Incremental Transaction Log backup from the primary replica to the secondary replica.
42
From the secondary replica, use SQL Server Management Studio to add each applicable database to the AlwaysOn Availability Group.
Perform this step locally on the applicable secondary node.
43
Repeat Step 34 through Step 42 for each secondary replica that is part of the group.
Example of restoring a database that does not exist on the primary replica

The following procedure describes how to restore a database to an AlwaysOn Availability Group if the database was removed from the primary replica before the restore.

1
Select the data to restore.
For more information, see Selecting Online VDI data for restore under Restoring data from Online VDI backups or Selecting data for a VSS restore under Restoring data from VSS backups.
As described previously, you cannot use the same job to restore databases from multiple groups. Nor can you use the same job to restore a database that belongs to a group and a different database that does not.
2
On the Create Selection Set page, click Edit Plugin Options, and configure the applicable parameters depending on whether you are performing a VSS or VDI restore.
For information on the options that are common to all restore jobs, see Setting Online VDI restore options under Restoring data from Online VDI backups or Setting VSS restore options under Restoring data from VSS backups.
3
In the AlwaysOn Availability Groups section, clear the check box Remove Primary Database from the AlwaysOn Availability Group Before Restore.
4
Select or clear the Add Primary Database to the AlwaysOn Availability Group After Restore check box, whichever is applicable.
5
Complete the following fields (required):
•
Restore to the following AlwaysOn Availability Group: Enter the name of the group.
•
Enter the NetVault Backup Client Name on the AlwaysOn Availability Groups Primary Node (optional): Enter the name of the client that is running on the primary node. If you enter a name for a different node, the restore fails. If you are unsure which client is running on the primary node, use SQL Server Management Studio to determine which node is the primary node in the group.
6
If you are restoring the backup to a named SQL Server Instance, not the default instance, enter the name of the instance in the Instance Name, If Restoring to an AlwaysOn Named Instance field.
 
* 
TIP: Only enter the name of the instance. If you enter the fully qualified name, <HostName>\<InstanceName>, the plug-in ignores the hostname.
7
Complete the steps outlined in Finalizing and submitting an Online VDI restore job under Restoring data from Online VDI backups.
8
Perform a Full Database backup from the primary replica.
9
Perform a restore from each secondary replica that was backed up by the Full Database backup performed in Step 7.
Complete a separate restore operation for each secondary replica that makes up the primary replica.
10
Use SQL Server Management Studio to add the secondary replicas to the AlwaysOn Availability Group.

Renaming or relocating a database

The plug-in lets you restore a database to a different name during restore. The renaming of a database can be useful if you do not want to overwrite the existing version and want to create a copy of the database. You can also relocate the database to a different directory while restoring it with the plug-in.

 
* 
IMPORTANT: To make a copy of a database using the Full File and Filegroup Backup method, available only for VDI, it must be restored to a different SQL Server Instance.

When renaming a database during a VSS-based restore, the database files must also be relocated to an alternate directory. If the database files are not relocated to an alternate directory, the restore fails. This failure is because VSS does not let you rename the database without moving the data and log files to a different directory. When relocating data and log files for VSS-based restores, you can relocate the data files to one directory and the log files to a separate directory if both directories are different than the original.
1
In the Navigation pane, click Create Restore Job, select Plug‑in for SQL Server from the Plugin Type list, select the applicable saveset, and click Next.
Select the database to restore from the backup saveset by following the instructions outlined in Restoring data from Online VDI backups.
2
With the database selected on the Create Selection Set page, select Rename from the context menu.
3
In the Rename/Relocate dialog box, enter the applicable information:
•
Rename: Enter the new name.
 
* 
IMPORTANT: When renaming a database during a VSS-based restore, the database files must also be relocated to an alternate directory. If the database files are not relocated to an alternate directory, the restore fails. This failure is because VSS does not let you rename the database without moving the data and log files to a different directory. When relocating data and log files for VSS-based restores, you can relocate the data files to one directory and the log files to a separate directory if both directories are different from the original.
•
Relocate: Enter the new path.
The plug-in lets you relocate the log files to a directory other than the data files directory. To restore to separate directories, type in the paths to the directories where the data files and log files are to be restored. Enter the data file directory first, and then enter the path to the log file directory. Separate the two directory paths using a comma — no space must exist before or after the comma. The directory specified in this field must exist at job run-time.
4
To apply your changes, click OK.
* 
NOTE: In the WebUI, the database name is accompanied by the rename and relocate information in parentheses. The database files are renamed using a concatenation of the new name and the original name, that is, <NewName>_<OriginalName>.
5
Continue with the restore procedure as explained in Restoring data from Online VDI backups.

Restoring a database to an alternate instance

With the plug-in’s VDI-based backup method, you can restore a database to an alternate instance of SQL Server running on the database server. The procedure for performing this type of a restore is outlined in the following topic. This process does not support the use of AlwaysOn Availability Groups.

 
* 
IMPORTANT: If you intend to restore a database to an alternate instance that resides on the same server and the original database still exists, use the Rename/Relocate option described previously in Renaming or relocating a database. Use this option to rename or move the datafiles to ensure that they do not overwrite or conflict with the same files in the original database.
Figure 4. Restoring to alternate instance

1
Before initiating this type of restore, check that the following prerequisites are met:
•
Same version of SQL Server: Both the source instance from which the data was backed up and the target instance to which the data is to be restored must be running the same version of SQL Server.
•
Instance configured for access: The instance to which the database is to be restored must be accessible to the plug-in. To set up the instance for access, see Configuring authentication details.
2
In the Navigation pane, click Create Restore Job, select Plug‑in for SQL Server from the Plugin Type list, select the applicable saveset, and click Next.
Select the database to restore from the backup saveset by following the instructions outlined in Restoring data from Online VDI backups.
3
On the Create Selection Set page, click Edit Plugin Options, and configure the restore options by following the instructions outlined in Restoring data from Online VDI backups.
4
In addition, set the Target Instance parameter.
To do so, specify the name of the instance to which the selected database is to be restored. You can either specify the fully qualified name, that is, <HostName>\<InstanceName> — for example, WIN2K3\SQLINSTANCE2 or the instance name, for example, SQLINSTANCE2, in this field.
5
Complete the procedure by following the instructions outlined in Restoring data from Online VDI backups.
 
* 
IMPORTANT: You can also rename or relocate a database while performing this type of restore for VDI-based backups. For more information, see Renaming or relocating a database.

Restoring data to an alternate SQL Server

Similar to the plug-in’s ability to restore databases to a different SQL Server Instance on the same database server, you can target a different SQL Server during the restore process. This process does not support the use of AlwaysOn Availability Groups.

Figure 5. Restoring to alternate SQL Server

This functionality is useful during disaster recovery operations. You can restore a database to a different SQL Server by using the steps provided in the following topics. You can also use this process to restore a NetVault Backup Virtual Client to a standalone NetVault Backup Client.

 
* 
IMPORTANT: Microsoft’s VSS backup method does not support restoring a VSS-based backup to an alternate instance; therefore, restoring VSS-based backups to an alternate instance with Plug‑in for SQL Server is not supported.

In a disaster recovery scenario, use this procedure to restore the master and the msdb database backups. After restoring the master database, restart the server. Restore and recover each individual database.
1
Before initiating this type of restore, check that the following prerequisites are met on the new restore target:
•
Same version of SQL Server installed: The SQL Server version must be the same as the version running on the existing database server.
•
NetVault Backup software and the Plug‑in for SQL Server installed: The same version of NetVault Backup software and the plug-in must be installed and configured on the new restore target.
•
Client added to the NetVault Backup Server: The target machine must be added to the NetVault Backup Server by using the Manage Clients page of the NetVault Backup WebUI.
•
Instance of SQL Server must exist on the new restore target: An instance of SQL Server must exist on the new restore target. This instance serves as the target of the relocation restore. Not only must this instance be properly set up and configured in SQL Server, it must also be accessible to the plug-in on the new restore target. To set up the instance for access, see Configuring authentication details.
2
Restore the master and the msdb database backups.
 
* 
IMPORTANT: When you perform a restore to an alternate server, you cannot modify the name or destination of the restored master database. The master database is restored to the location of the current master database in the target for the restore.
3
After restoring the master database, restart the server.
4
Restore and recover each individual database.
a
In the Navigation pane, click Create Restore Job, select Plug‑in for SQL Server from the Plugin Type list, select the applicable saveset, and click Next.
Select the database to be restored from the backup saveset by following the instructions outlined in Restoring data from Online VDI backups.
b
On the Create Selection Set page, click Edit Plugin Options, and configure the restore options by following the instructions outlined in Restoring data from Online VDI backups.
c
In addition, set the Target Instance parameter.
To do so, specify the name of the instance to which the selected database is to be restored on the new database server. Enter only the instance name in this field; the restore fails if the server name is included.
 
* 
NOTE: If you are restoring the default SQL Server Instance to the alternate server, you can enter the name of the destination server, for example, MSSQLSERVER, for the Target Instance.
d
Click OK to save the settings, and then click Next.
e
In Job Name, specify a name for the job if you do not want to use the default setting.
Assign a descriptive name that lets you easily identify the job when monitoring its progress. The job name can contain alphanumeric and non-alphanumeric characters, but it cannot contain non-Latin characters. On Windows, there is no length restriction; however, a maximum of 40 characters is recommended.
f
In the Target Client list, select the new restore target.
g
Use the Schedule, Source Options, and Advanced Options lists to configure any additional required options.
h
Click Save or Save & Submit, whichever is applicable.
You can monitor progress on the Job Status page and view the logs on the View Logs page. For more information, see the Quest NetVault Backup Administrator’s Guide.
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