Archiving Databases und long-term preservation

Question

Archiving Databases und long-term preservation

Benjamin R.

SSC Rookie

Points: 40
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January 29, 2008 at 4:18 am

#178728

Hello,
i would like to know what mechanisms MS SQL Server has implemented for long-term preservation. E.g. is ist possible to take a consistant snapshots of a Database an save them in an open format like XML?
Regards,
Benjamin

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Matt Miller (4) SSC Guru Points: 124210 More actions · Answer 1

I'm not sure I follow. SQL Server has given us the ability to use XML to create said snapshots should you desire to do so - but it's not a built-in automatic thing. Kind of like everything else - there are thing you CAN do, but there are rather few things it will do automatically without you having a say in it.

So - assuming your data lends itself to it, and you have the storage capacity it is going to take, xml snapshots are in fact possible. But - it's all to be programmed from the ground up.

If however - you're looking for a feature that would be something like "Back this up as XML" - no, no such beast that I know of.

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Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part...unless you're my manager...or a director and above...or a really loud-spoken end-user..All right - what was my emergency again?

Paul Randal One Orange Chip Points: 29544 More actions · Answer 2

Basically you're looking at using backups to archive old databases. There's nothing built-in to SQL Server that let's you do anything intelligent in terms of archiving - you need to roll your own or use a 3rd party product.

Paul Randal
CEO, SQLskills.com: Check out SQLskills online training!
Blog:www.SQLskills.com/blogs/paul Twitter: @PaulRandal
SQL MVP, Microsoft RD, Contributing Editor of TechNet Magazine
Author of DBCC CHECKDB/repair (and other Storage Engine) code of SQL Server 2005

Benjamin R. SSC Rookie Points: 40 More actions · Answer 3

Hello,

thanks a lot for your advice. I couldn't find informations about creating XML-Snapshots with MS-SQL. Do you have any resources where this feature is described?

Thanks,

Benjamin Rna