PowerProtect Data Manager 19.14 Microsoft SQL Server User Guide

Configure general database restore settings

To configure Microsoft SQL Server restores with the Microsoft app agent for VM Direct SSMS plug-in, you must first specify general restore options on the Database Restore > General page.

1. Open the Microsoft app agent for VM Direct window to the Database Restore > General page.

   The General page appears as shown in the following figure.

   

2. Beside PowerProtect DD System, click ...
   The PowerProtect DD System List & Lockbox Settings window appears and lists the DD server and lockbox that is configured in the PowerProtect Data Manager protection policy. If the protection policy is configured for replication, the secondary DD server and storage unit also appear.
3. In the PowerProtect DD System List & Lockbox Settings window, select the DD server that contains the backup, and then click OK.
   NOTE:If you are restoring the backup to an alternate virtual machine that is not protected in a PowerProtect Data Manager protection policy, contact the PowerProtect Data Manager administrator to retrieve the DD host details for the protection policy associated with the original virtual machine. You must also request the PowerProtect Data Manager administrator to perform either of the following actions:

   • Approve the Microsoft application agent on the target virtual machine.
   • Provide the DD storage unit login credentials.
   The SQL Server host field is updated with the client backups that are available on the selected DD server storage unit.
4. From the SQL Server host list, select the Microsoft SQL Server host that is the source of the backup.

   If you are restoring an AAG database, you must select the Windows cluster name, which enables you to browse the list of AAGs hosted on this cluster.

   If you are restoring a clusterless AAG database, you must select the AAG group name, which enables you to browse the list of AAGs hosted on the clusterless AAG group. In the case of a clusterless AAG, the AAG name plus GUID is displayed.

5. Use the Start browsing from list to select a backup save time, and then click Show Versions.

   The SQL Server Instance field and save sets table are updated with the backups that are within the specified browse time. If no level full backups are found in the specified time range, you are prompted for confirmation to load the latest full backup.

   NOTE:If you selected a cluster name or AAG group name with GUID in the preceding step, then the list of AAGs in the cluster or the list of AAGs in the AAG group named with GUID is displayed instead of the list of Microsoft SQL Server instances.
6. From the SQL Server Instance list, select the Microsoft SQL Server instance that contains the databases that you want to restore.

   The databases located on the Microsoft SQL Server instance appear in the database table below the SQL Server Instance field.

7. From the database table, select either the entire Microsoft SQL Server instance by selecting the check box in the header row or select only the required databases to restore.
   The corresponding save sets appear in the save sets table that is below the databases table.
8. For single database restores, from the save sets table, select the database backup and timestamp that you want to restore.
   By default, the most recent backup is selected.

   NOTE:This step only applies to single database restores. For multiple database and instance-level restores, the most recent backup is restored.
9. (Optional) To restore the database to a specific point-in-time, perform the following steps:
   1. Under Destination, click Timeline.
      The Backup Timeline dialog box appears as shown in the following figure.

      

   2. Specify the backup date and time, and then click OK.
10. Specify the restore destination by performing one of the following action sequences:
    • To perform a recovery directly to a database, perform the following steps:
      1. Select Restore to SQL Server.
      2. From the Instance list, select the Microsoft SQL Server instance where you want to restore the backup.
         NOTE:

         If you are restoring the backup to an alternate instance, the data and log files are automatically relocated to the target Microsoft SQL Server instance default data and log path. You can change the file destination settings on the Files page.

         If you are restoring an AAG database, select the target instance that is part of the AAG for the restore. You must remove the database from the AAG first. You can add the database back to the AAG after the restore completes.

      3. From the Database list, select or type the name of the database where the backup will be restored to.

         If the database exists, the operation prompts you for confirmation to overwrite the database.

    • To recover the database as flat-files, perform the following steps:
      1. Select Restore backups as files.

      2. In the Folder field, specify the destination for the files. The Folder field is populated with the default destination path.

         To perform a redirected restore, change the destination path by clicking ... beside the Folder field, and specifying the required destination.

         NOTE:

         Ensure that the destination path is not a root drive, for example, E:\.

         Full backups are restored as .mdf, .ndf, and .ldf files. Transaction log backups are restored as .bak files.