Tag: Database Backups & Recovery
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Working with SQL Server Database Master Keys
SQL Server uses an encryption hierarchy to protect secrets such as credentials, asymmetric keys and certificates. At the database level, that hierarchy is anchored by the database master key (DMK). Because all other encrypted objects depend on it, losing access to the DMK can render those objects unusable. This post walks through how to: It also…
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How to Restore a Database in SQL Server
Restoring a database in SQL Server is a core DBA task. Whether you’re responding to an incident, performing disaster recovery testing, migrating data, or rebuilding an environment, restores need to be predictable, repeatable, and verifiable. This post walks through restoring a database using both T-SQL and SQL Server Management Studio, along with the checks that…
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Why Is the Database in “In Recovery” Mode?
Seeing a database stuck in Recovery mode usually happens at the worst possible time. It often appears after a restart, a restore, or an unexpected shutdown, and the immediate question is always the same: Is this normal, or do I need to intervene? This post explains what recovery mode actually means, how to tell whether…
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Database Cannot Be Opened – It Is in the Middle of a Restore
You may see the following error when attempting to access a database during or after a restore operation: Database “[DatabaseName]” cannot be opened. It is in the middle of a restore. This message is easy to misinterpret, especially during incidents or maintenance windows.It does not indicate corruption or failure by itself. This error means the…
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Kill All User Sessions on a Database in SQL Server
When you need to drop, restore, or change database settings, active user sessions often get in the way. SQL Server will block these operations until all connections are cleared. In busy environments, waiting is rarely practical. This post shows a safe, deliberate, and review-first way to identify and kill all user sessions connected to a…
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Estimate Backup and Restore Completion Time in SQL Server
When a database backup or restore is running, one of the first questions is simple: How long does it have left? SQL Server exposes estimated completion information for active backup and restore operations. You can query it directly to see progress, elapsed time, and an approximate finish time without guessing or relying on external tooling.…
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Get Last Database Backup Times in SQL Server
Checking the last backup times is one of the first things to do when reviewing a SQL Server instance. Before making changes, running maintenance, or troubleshooting issues, you need to know whether reliable recovery points actually exist. This post shows a fast, reliable way to check the most recent full, differential, and transaction log backups…
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Get Last Database Restore Date and Time in SQL Server
Knowing when a database was last restored is useful during incident response, audits, and general environment validation. This is not about backup schedules or restore progress.It is a simple historical check that answers one question: When was this database last restored? This post shows a reliable way to retrieve the most recent restore date and…
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Script: Estimate Backup and Restore Completion Time
This script shows the current progress and estimated completion time for running backup and restore operations. It’s intended to be used while an operation is already in progress, giving a clear view of how long it has been running and how much time is likely remaining. This is especially useful during incidents or maintenance windows…
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Script: Check Backup Coverage Across All Databases
This script returns the most recent full, differential, and transaction log backup times for every database on a SQL Server instance. It’s designed as a quick sanity check to validate backup coverage, identify gaps, and confirm maintenance jobs are running as expected across an environment. The Script Example Output The result set shows one row…
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