Comments on: Do you focus too much on your backups???

By: Why Hire A DBA? | SQL Server Blog - StraightPath Solutions

Why Hire A DBA? | SQL Server Blog - StraightPath Solutions — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:27:18 +0000

[...] good Database Administrator (again, hopefully) is practicing restores or devising clever ways to sample for restore failure possibilities. They are thinking about [...]

By: How do -you- install SQL Server? (Part 3) | SQL Server Blog - StraightPath Solutions

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:02:50 +0000

[...] up a backup strategy that matches your recovery strategy. My philosophy is that people focus on their backups too much. What I mean by that is – remember why we take backups – we take them to have a way [...]

By: Mike Walsh

Mike Walsh — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 06:30:38 +0000

Thanks Bryan -

Just checked out your blog. Excellent stuff and I liked your point about documentation/run book. Missed that one but an important piece.

As far as vendors getting some blame, sure I can see that. I think it's primarly apathy/laziness as you said but also people more worried about budgets, performane (on the backup side), encryption/security of backups and not enough focus on the restore side.

It's our culture. We don't worry about the what ifs becuase they don't happen a lot. As for me and my house, I'll try and be ready for the worst and hope for the best.

By: Bryan Oliver

Bryan Oliver — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:21:25 +0000

I blogged about this back in September last year and have spoken about it often at user groups. I think the real problem is that people are naturally lazy and that software is not designed around recovery. You never here of a Recovery Product its not netRecovery its netbackup so some of the blame also lies with the way vendors sell it. http://www.sqlbloke.com/sql-bloke-blogs/2008/9/19/testing-backups.html

By: Mike Walsh

Mike Walsh — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:58:22 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Jon. Indeed practicing is important in every field. My favorite armed services motto is the Coast Guard's: "Semper Paratus" or "always ready". You need to be ready for the unexpected. Even if you can't practice everything, just think about scenarios and responses in a variety of situations. Run through them in your head and make sure you understand your approach.

Your manager will appreciate the effort and feel more confident.

By: Jon DiPietro

Jon DiPietro — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:09:18 +0000

Well said. This attitude exists because those asking the questions you cite are more interested in placing a check box next to a bunch of words on an obscure document (a.k.a. "Best Practices"). I’ve been a facilitator for emergency preparedness meetings (for water utilities) and it’s something that is worthwhile for DBAs (and, really, anyone) to think about in their own jobs. Practicing is important no matter what your job is – especially when part of it involves emergency response in one form or another.