Failure Restoring Differential Backup

  • I have an issue with my SQL 2012 database server and restoring a full backup (norecovery) then applying a differential backup. The error message is that there is a break in the LSN chain. The First LSN of the full backup is the same as the Full LSN of the differential backup so I'm confident there is not a break in the backup chain. I am restoring a Production Backup to our DEV Server, so the issue is not currently critical, but I don't feel confident that I could recover to a point in time if I had a Production failure.

    Does anyone have knowledge of a Hot Fix or work around?

  • Could you post the exact error message?

    How do deduce that the first LSNs are the same?

    [font="Times New Roman"]Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, www.sommarskog.se[/font]

  • The header file on each backup contains the LSN numbers. Querying the msdb database also produces matching LSN numbers.

  • I am travelling, and don't have the time to research this further. Anyone else who can step in?

    [font="Times New Roman"]Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, www.sommarskog.se[/font]

  • Could you post the full error message?

    There's a connect item related to restoring a SQL 2008 database using SSMS 2012 GUI, which posts an erroneous error message about LSN chain breaks, are you hitting that scenario?

    http://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/details/755813/sql-server-management-studio-2012-errors-when-doing-restore-to-sql-2008

    It should still work through T-SQL restore commands if you're hitting that

  • I was able to successfully restore a smaller database (12GB). I'll have to wait to try this larger one (about 300GB) when we have to do another refresh. I can't really do it now.

  • So here's what did and did not work:

    Didn't work:

    1. Add full backup

    2. Restore with NoRecovery

    3. Add differential backup

    What did work:

    1. Add full backup

    2. Add differential backup

    3. Restore With Recovery and prompt for each file.

  • So that is the problem: you are using the UI, instead of using T-SQL commands directly. At very least if you use the UI, and things don't work out, you should use the Script button to see what SSMS intend to do.

    [font="Times New Roman"]Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, www.sommarskog.se[/font]

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