Steve Jones - Editor (8/10/2010)

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Apologies to anyone that feels I crossed the line into too much advertising. I was asked to write something on this product, and I think I failed to editorialize on it properly.

I did think this particular feature was cool, and it is different. Idera's product is very cool as well, but it gives you a read only look. This one actually allows write back, so you could in fact, "mount" a database and test, or run your application against it and see where something failed. It's unique (for now), and I think a fairly innovative integration into SQL Server.

Steve Jones - Editor (8/11/2010)

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The backup file isn't changed. What happens when you do the restore is that the mdf/ldf/ndf are created as sparse files. All reads from these files are redirected to the backup file, while the writes go to the sparse files. So the backup file is intact, but your changes are recorded, similar to a database snapshot.

Steve Jones - Editor (8/11/2010)

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The backup file isn't changed. What happens when you do the restore is that the mdf/ldf/ndf are created as sparse files. All reads from these files are redirected to the backup file, while the writes go to the sparse files. So the backup file is intact, but your changes are recorded, similar to a database snapshot.

SQLBill (8/20/2010)

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Steve,

Good article, well written. However, as brought up it does give an appearance (notice I said appearance) of a conflict of interest.

You highlight a RedGate product and guess what - Red Gate owns SQLServerCentral.com.

While most members are aware of this, not everyone may know that RedGate bought this site. It's not really highlighted anywhere.

I suggest doing like other media outlets do...include a disclaimer that RedGate owns this site when you write an article (pro or con) about one of their products.

Just my 2 cents.

-SQLBill