Bring Online / Offline
An offline database is unavailable to users. An offline database icon 
To take a database offline/online
- Select the Databases node in the Object Explorer.
- Right-click a database and select Tasks | Take Online or Offline.
Attach Databases
To attach a database
-
Right-click a database under the Databases node in the Object Explorer, and select Tasks | Attach Database.
-
Click Add to select the database file (*.mdf).
-
Complete the fields as necessary. Review the following for additional information:
Databases to attach
Description
Database File Location (*.mdf)
Click
to locate the database file.
Attach As
Update the name of the database, if needed.
Database details
Description Original file name
The data and log file names display for the selected database.
File type
The file type (data or log) displays.
Current file path
The current file path displays. Click
Message
Any messages for the selected file display.
Tips:
- To remove a database, select the database row under Databases to attach and click Remove. You cannot remove a database from the Database details list.
- To remove a log file, select the log file row under Database details and click Remove.
Detach Databases
This topic focuses on information that may be unfamiliar to you. It does not include all step and field descriptions.To detach a database
-
Select the Databases node in the Object Explorer.
- Right-click a database and select Tasks | Detach Database.
-
Complete the fields as necessary. Review the following for additional information:
Drop Connections
Select this checkbox to drop connections for the detached database.
Update Statistics
Select this checkbox to update statistics for the detached database.
Keep Full Text Catalogs
Select this checkbox to keep full text catalogs for the detached database.
Create and Revert Database Snapshots
Note: This topic focuses on information that may be unfamiliar to you. It does not include all step and field descriptions.
Database snapshot is a read-only copy of the database, taken at the moment of snapshot's creation. Unlike backup a snapshot requires less hard disk space and is recommended for report purposes.
Reverting to database snapshot overwrites the updates made on the source database and rebuilds log file, that provides no possibility to roll forward the changes.
To create a database snapshot
- Select the Databases node in the Object Explorer.
- Right-click a database and select Tasks | Create Snapshot.
To revert a database snapshot
- Select the Databases node in the Object Explorer.
- Right-click a database snapshot and select Tasks | Revert to Snapshot.
Notes: The following restrictions exist when reverting database snapshots:
- The database must not contain read-only or compressed filegroups.
- Only current snapshot of the database may exist. Any existing snapshots should be manually removed.
- All the files that were online at the moment of snapshot creation must remain online at the moment of its reverting. If Filestream filegroups exist on the source database they are automatically marked offline, such database cannot be reverted to the snapshot.