A document outlines best practices for surviving a disaster involving SQL Server infrastructure. It recommends being well prepared with regular backups stored offsite, documented restore procedures, clear roles and responsibilities, and service level agreements defining acceptable downtimes. Key aspects of preparation include backups, restore testing, documentation, contact lists, hardware and software inventory, passwords, encryption keys, defined teams, and keeping management informed. The overall message is that with proper planning, a disaster can be survived by following the best practice of being prepared.

1. 2 AM
A DISASTER JUST BEGAN

2. ABOUT ME
• Polish SQL Server User Group Leader
• Microsoft Certified Trainer
• MCP, MCSA, MLSS, MLSBS, MCTS, MCITP, MCT
• SQL Server MVP
• PASS SQL Azure Virtual Chapter Co-Founder
• Blogger, Influencer, Technical Writer
• Last 7 years in Data Center in Wrocław
• Generally about 12 yeast in IT/banking area
• GITCA Technical Lead & Vice-Chair EMEA Board
• And As Freelancer: Trainer, Auditor, Consultant
• Speaker at SQL Server Community Launch, Time for SharePoint,
CodeCamps, SharePoint Community Launch, CISSP Day, InfoTRAMS
• Deep Dives Co-Author:
High availability of SQL Server in the context
of Service Level Agreements (Chapter 18th)

3. 2:00 AM … IN A DREAMS…
• Your best time for dreaming … is the best time for Disaster
• Your mobile phone ringing and ringing…
• And Your husband / wife say…….

4. 2:15 AM … IN A CAR
• What’s happen with my server?
• When I made last backup?
• Where is my backup?
• Have I ever tried restore?
• If yes – I hope that all in a team (about team soon) remember about (me?)
• If not – who can help me NOW?

5. 2:40 AM … IN A SERVER ROOM
• $#$$@$^^#^&^@!#
• Is Windows Server alive?
• YES (thanks all saints)
• or NOT (damm)
• who is responsible for it?
• Is my SQL Server alive?
• YES (why phones ringing)
• or NOT (…)
• Why I’m responsible for it?

6. A DISASTER – WHAT IS IT

7. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED

8. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED
Backups
• about type of backup ( simple rm / full rm)
• about place for stored backup data
• about backup window
• about procedure used for backup
• about backup tools
• about backup of „backup logs”
• About estimated time for executint backup
• About REAL TIME of executing backup

9. BACKUP > EXTRACT FROM SOP*
In the request, backup, should include the following information:
• Information about the operating system and application version
for online backup and installed updates for these components
• a file backup policy, in particular:
a number of versions of a file stored
The storage time of the next version of the file
The frequency of execution of such incremental backups with the
proposal of their implementation
• Online Backup Policy
The storage time of a full backup
with storage time such an incremental backup
the time of transaction log files
The frequency of execution of a full backup with the proposal deadline for
its implementation
The frequency of execution of the transaction log backup
• Information about trees directories / files that should be
omittedor included during backup tasks (include / exclude list)
• Number and type / model of physical processors, operating int he node-
connected
• Does the node will use the connection to the SAN to implement backup

10. BACKUP (REGISTRY) > EXTRACT FROM SOP*
This register contains information about a backup plan implemented. It
consists of the following fields:
Backup file space:
number of versions of a file stored in a backup
number of days that are kept more versions of a file
number of versions of a file stored in the backup system after its
removal from the client device
the number of days that will store the latest version of the
deleted file from the client device
the number of days that will be stored in the archive
Online Backup:
the number of backups stored in full backup
number of incremental backups / difffull stored in the backup
Frequency of transaction log backups stored in the backup (for
databases)
the number of days the backups to be stored on-line backupsystem
The list of nodes defined in the system backup:
Domain | Node name | IP address of the node
The list of defined backup tasks (called scheduli)
name of the task (schedule'a) | execution time
a period of at which the task is repeated

11. BEST PRACTICES BY BRENT OZAR
SQL Server Backup Best Practices | Written on October 17, 2007 by Brent Ozar in SQL
Server >> http://www.brentozar.com/archive/2007/10/backing-up-sql-server-my-
own-mediocre-practices/
I’ve been backing up SQL Servers for almost a decade now, and it’s time to share the
lessons I’ve learned. All of this is my own opinion – your mileage may vary – but I’ll
try to explain the reasoning behind the choices I make. I won’t address log shipping
or snapshots this time around.
• Never back up databases to local disk.
• Back up databases to a fileshare, then back the share up to tape.
• Cost justify the network share with lower licensing costs & simpler backups.
• Back up to a different SAN if possible.
• My sweet spot for the backup array is raid 10 SATA.
• Backup agents like NetBackup and Backup Exec mean giving up scheduling
control.
• Do regular fire drill rebuilds and restores.
• Build a standalone restore testbed.
• Keep management informed on restore time estimates.
• Trust no one.

12. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED
Restore
• about type of backup ( simple rm / full rm)
• about place for stored backup data
• about the procedures of recovery
• about estimated time for recovery
• about REAL TIME for recovery
• about tools for recovery
• about Corporate Backup Manager
• about password for access to library

13. RESTORE > EXTRACT FROM SOP*
Register for Recovery/Restore/ReplacementTests
This register contains information about the tests and replacement of
part or all of the environment.
It consists of the following fields:
the date of commencement and completion of the recovery test
client for which the test was performed recovery test
servers involved in testing and replacement
extent of testing and replacement
the person / persons performing the recovery test
the person on the client side accepts the correctness of the recovery
test
subsequent to the recovery test

14. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED
Procedures
• It is not about stored procedures!!!
• It’s about storing procedures with answers for the following:
• One piece of paper
• How to start restore
• Who can help
• How to processing a restore
• When we can finish
• It MUST be simple

15. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED
Roles
• Database Administrator
• Windows Administrator
• Backup Administrator
• Network Administrator
• Customer Key Account
• Manager of division
• Data Center Manager
• Nightshift Operator
• Customer Administrator!!

16. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED
PSO > USO > SLA
• PSO Planned System Outages – Planned System Unavailability
• Minimum planned unavailability, due to the need to carry out modernization
work, installing patches, replacement / extension of hardware,
• Agreed/accepted by/with the client and not affecting the provisions of the HA,
and SLA, until
• ...USO Unplaned System Outages – Unplanned System Unavailability
• an error that prevents a partial or total work environment in a tangible,
measurable customer
• resulting in high costs if you need repairs, as well as penalty payments for non-
SLA

17. THE MAGIC NINES…
Downtime per Downtime per Downtime per
Availability % year month* week
90% 36.5 days 72 hours 16.8 hours
95% 18.25 days 36 hours 8.4 hours
98% 7.30 days 14.4 hours 3.36 hours
99% 3.65 days 7.20 hours 1.68 hours
99.5% 1.83 days 3.60 hours 50.4 min
99.8% 17.52 hours 86.23 min 20.16 min
99.9% ("three nines") 8.76 hours 43.2 min 10.1 min
99.95% 4.38 hours 21.56 min 5.04 min
99.99% ("four nines") 52.6 min 4.32 min 1.01 min
99.999% ("five nines") 5.26 min 25.9 s 6.05 s
99.9999% ("six nines") 31.5 s 2.59 s 0.605 s

18. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED
Envelope
With ACTUAL!!! User names and passwords for:
• Windows Server Administrator
• SQL Server Administrator
• SQL Server Agent
• SQL Server Services (if You didn’t use default)
• SQL Server Applications Services
• Backup accountss

19. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED
Hardware
Some of the hard stuff for replacement:
• Server
• Motherboard
• Memory (RAM)
• Processor (CPU)
• Network Adapter (LAN/NIC)
• Fibre Channel Adapter
• Hard Disk (IDE/SATA/SAS/SSD…)
• RAID Controller

20. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED
Software
• Windows
• 2000/2003/2003R2/2008/2008R2
• SP 1,2,3,4 +CU 1, 2,3, …
• Standard, Enterprise, Data Center
• x32, x64, ia64
• SQL Server
• 6.5, 7.0, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2008R2, 2012 (haha)
• SP 1,2,3,4 +CU, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9….
• Drivers (servers, lan card, video card)
• AGENT ORANGE

21. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED
Keys
Some keys which You need…
• Serial keys
• Rack keys
• Server keys
• Storage keys
• Knife
• Lighter
• Phone

22. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED
ENCRYPTION
If You use encryption (such a TDE)
• TDE
• Create encryption key
• Export encryption key
• Backup encryption key
• CA
• Remember about expiration date
• BitLocker

23. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED
TEAM
You can work with disaster as:
Team Member
Team Leader
Last Samurai

24. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED
MANAGERS
hmm

25. BEST PRACTICE FOR SURVIVING DISASTER
ITS ONLY ONE: BE PREPARED
• Backups (and know-how about stored place, and restoring way)
• Procedures (the short is better | one page is the best)
• Roles (who can help, who is necessary for access)
• SLA (90? 95? 99,99? in minutes, hours or days you have to recover)
• Envelope (with user names and passwords for all important accounts)
• Hardware (server, motherboard, CPU, RAM, LAN, HDD, SDD, USB)
• Software (Windows+SP+CU, SQL+SP+CU, drivers, AGENT ORANGE)
• Keys (serial numbers, physical keys, knife)
• ENCRYPTION (arrghhhhh!!! Certificates, keys, internal/external)
• TEAM (Team, leader, separate…)
• MANAGERS (hmmm)

26. AND ONE MORE VERY IMPORTANT:
DON’T PANIC !!!

27. AFTER SESSIONS
• MAIL: KoprowskiT@windowslive.com
• MSG: KoprowskiT@windowslive.com
• JABBER: KoprowskiT@alfa.incenti.net.pl
• SKYPE: tjkoprowski
• TWITTER/FACEBOOK/LINKEDIN: KoprowskiT
BLOGS:
ITPRO Anorak’s Vision: http://itblogs.pl/notbeautifulanymore/ [PL/EN]
Volume Licensing Specialites: http://koprowskit.eu/licensing/ [PL]
My MVP Blog: http://koprowskit.eu/geek/ [PL/EN/ES]

28. NEXT SESSIONS
SATURDAY KEYNOTE
Inside sql server 2012’s columnstore index
By
Connor cunningham