how to recover from log file - SQL SERVER 2008--Urgent Help

  • I have a database on SQL server 2008 . It is deployed on HP PROLIANT 380 G7.

    Operating system is windows server 2008. The server has 8 hard disks with RAID 5 configuration

    Logical Drive(1) C: four disks and further divided in to C and G

    Logical Drive(2) E : Four disks and further divided into two logical drives E and F

    the DBMS is installed in C and the temp is in F.

    We have a database with real data in E and Log in G.

    Today we found that Drive E and F are not working ( Disappeared). We contacted HP for support and we understand that some body(for the time being not known ) replaced and reseated physical drive in Logical drive (1). So, they informed me that the data is lost.

    Question: For different reason we didn't take backup for the last few days(5 days) which could be large amount of data. 5 days a go we have full back up (offline). And today we have got the log file in Drive G. / the DBMS doesn't start currently)

    How can we restore the the previous 5 days data from log file . Thank U for your help......

    For your information: we have only log file only for the last five days( The difference)

  • You probably can't.

    What recovery model was the database in?

    What exactly do you mean by 'a full backup (offline)'

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • What do you mean by offline backup??

    AFAIK, if somehow you're able to bring back the db online you'll be able to take a log backup to do the restore up to the time of the issue.

    Obviously it would be useless at that point.

    If you don't have the log backups available since the full backup, you can't do anything other than restore the full DB as of 5 days ago.

  • Ninja's_RGR'us (11/11/2011)


    AFAIK, if somehow you're able to bring back the db online you'll be able to take a log backup to do the restore up to the time of the issue.

    You don't need to bring a DB online to do a log backup.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • GilaMonster (11/11/2011)


    Ninja's_RGR'us (11/11/2011)


    AFAIK, if somehow you're able to bring back the db online you'll be able to take a log backup to do the restore up to the time of the issue.

    You don't need to bring a DB online to do a log backup.

    Ok, I was assuming that you needed to see the db in the list and that if the data files were gone they wouldn't be there... hence catch 22.

    Note to self, I need to start testing all the stuff I read!

    Shuffles schedule around to remove that useless sleep!

  • What exactly do you mean by 'a full backup (offline)'

    I guess its OS backup of database files (MDFs & LDFs) either by DETACH or OFFLINE (preferred). It's common in Oracle for small DBs where IT support plays DBA role.

  • Dev (11/11/2011)


    What exactly do you mean by 'a full backup (offline)'

    I guess its OS backup of database files (MDFs & LDFs) either by DETACH or OFFLINE (preferred). It's common in Oracle for small DBs where IT support plays DBA role.

    I prefer not to guess when it comes to disaster recovery. I want to hear direct from the OP what exactly he has and what his exact situation is.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Dev (11/11/2011)


    What exactly do you mean by 'a full backup (offline)'

    I guess its OS backup of database files (MDFs & LDFs) either by DETACH or OFFLINE (preferred). It's common in Oracle for small DBs where IT support plays DBA role.

    My guess too, and certainly Gail's fear, as she won't be able to do anything unless they recover the mdf file.

  • Thank U for your reply:

    When I say Full backup ( offline).... we have the full backup taken 5 days a go and in external storage and now we are able to restore in another server up to that date. The problem is we didn't take the backup after that . Currently We have only the log file ( For the last five days ). any possibility to recover the last 5 days data from the log file .

  • It is in Full recovery Model

  • assefam (11/11/2011)


    Thank U for your reply:

    When I say Full backup ( offline).... we have the full backup taken 5 days a go and in external storage and now we are able to restore in another server up to that date. The problem is we didn't take the backup after that . Currently We have only the log file ( For the last five days ). any possibility to recover the last 5 days data from the log file .

    HOW did you take the backup. That changes everything!

  • assefam (11/11/2011)


    Thank U for your reply:

    When I say Full backup ( offline).... we have the full backup taken 5 days a go and in external storage and now we are able to restore in another server up to that date.

    Doesn't help me. What EXACTLY do you mean by an offline backup? Was it a normal SQL Server backup that you then took to an offline server? Or did you take the database offline and copy the files?

    Do you have log backups? If not, how are you managing your transaction log?

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Please Help: Is it possible to take buckup from Log file with out bring DB online. For your information, the real data is not available

  • assefam (11/11/2011)


    Please Help: Is it possible to take buckup from Log file with out bring DB online. For your information, the real data is not available

    Help us to help you.

    What EXACTLY do you mean by an offline backup? Was it a normal SQL Server backup that you then took to an offline server? Or did you take the database offline and copy the files?

    Do you have log backups? If not, how are you managing your transaction log?

  • assefam (11/11/2011)


    Please Help: Is it possible to take buckup from Log file with out bring DB online. For your information, the real data is not available

    I need you to answer my questions. I'm not asking for my own amusement. I'm asking because the answers to these affect how (and if) we proceed.

    What EXACTLY do you mean by an offline backup? Was it a normal SQL Server backup that you then took to an offline server? Or did you take the database offline and copy the files?

    Do you have log backups? If not, how are you managing your transaction log?

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

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