Dell NetWorker and VMware 19.11 Integration Guide

Restoring SQL Server application-consistent backups (Windows platforms only)

NetWorker 19.11 allows you to restore an individual SQL database or an entire SQL instance for a virtual machine that was backed up as part of a SQL Server application-consistent protection policy. You can perform this restore to a running virtual machine, providing you with operational recovery of SQL databases and disaster recovery of SQL instances. Additionally, alternate restore allows you to restore to a database copy. Once you restore SQL database FULL backups, you can also apply SQL database transaction log backups to those databases. The individual database or instance restore target location can be the original location, or a new location on either the original virtual machine or a different virtual machine, with the ability to select the SQL instance where the database will be restored, the option to change the database name, and the option to select specific folder locations for file and log placement. Note that the ability to select a different virtual machine is only possible for individual SQL database restore. When performing SQL instance restore, you are restricted to selecting the original virtual machine and original instance.

SQL restore functionality is provided in the Dell Data Protection Restore Client by using the App mode button on the login page. In App restore mode, the display of virtual machines and their primary backups is limited to virtual machines that have application consistent backups. Once a primary backup is selected, an additional index is loaded that allows you to browse and select the SQL instances, databases, and the database backup versions.

The Backup Versions pane displays the database backup versions on the original virtual machine, with a cumulative history of FULL and transaction log backups for that database for one cycle of the backup policy. The Backup Versions pane refreshes with each full backup, and each subsequent transaction log backup adds the transaction log backup versions. The cumulative backup history allows you to select a database and associated backup regardless of the primary backup that is selected. When you select a SQL instance or SQL database to restore and do not select a specific backup version, the most recent backup version of the selected primary backup will be restored automatically.

The Dell Data Protection Restore Client requires the virtual machine administrative credentials during mounting of the primary FULL backup on the original virtual machine. During the mount, NetWorker also installs or upgrades the FLR Agent and Microsoft VM App Agent, if required, on the selected virtual machine

The Dell Data Protection Restore Client will discover and display the SQL instance on the target virtual machine once the mount completes. If the target virtual machine does not have any running SQL Instances, an error will be displayed. You may select the SQL instance from this where you want to restore the database. The ability to select a different SQL Instance is only possible for individual database restore, and when performing SQL Instance restore you are restricted to selecting the original SQL Instance.

NetWorker automates the complete restore of SQL databases, restoring the database FULL and any transaction log backups as a single operation according to the following sequence:

• The primary FULL database backup is identified, mounted on the original virtual machine, and the SQL database files from the FULL backup are restored to the original database.
• If a transaction log backup was selected, the series of transaction logs that occurred after the FULL backup to the selected transaction log are restored in sequence.

NetWorker automates the complete restore of SQL instances according to the following sequence:

• The master database is restored first, then msdn, then model. During this restore, the SQL instance restarts in single-user mode as required by the Microsoft SQL Server to restore the master database. When the restore completes, the SQL services restart in multi-user mode.
• Each remaining database is restored individually, and includes the backup versions present in the currently selected backup.

The Dell Data Protection Restore Client provides the ability to monitor the restore operations while in progress by enabling the Polling feature, which is disabled by default. Once enabled, when you click the icon, the Restore Detail pane slides into view on the right side of the window, displaying the ongoing restore operations. Clicking the entry displays the progress of the restore and a recovery logs download option.