November 2009 | SansSQL

Sunday, November 15, 2009

How to Backup Analysis Service Database

An Analysis Service database can be backed up using SSMS or XMLA Query Editor.
Backup using SSMS:
1. Login to SSAS instance using SSMS
2. Right-Click on the Analysis service database you want to backup.
3. And Choose the option Backup.
4. Now in the Backup Database page, Enter the location to where you want the backup file to be placed.
5. Choose the other options, if required.
6. And Click on OK to backup the database.
Backup Using XMLA Query Editor:
1. Open the XMLA Query Editor using the New Query Option.
2. Enter the below query.
 <Backup xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/analysisservices/2003/engine"> 
   <Object>
     <DatabaseID>Test</DatabaseID>
   </Object>
   <File>E:\Test.abf</File>
   <AllowOverwrite>true</AllowOverwrite>
 </Backup>
3. Replace the DatabasesID with the Analysis Service database name which you want to backup.
4. And replace the File to where(location on disk) you want the analysis service database to be backed up to.
5. Execute the Query.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Backup Compression in SQL Server 2008

Backup Compression is a new feature in SQL Server 2008 that is introduced in SQL Server 2008. This new feature significantly reduces the backup and restore times as well as the size of the backups.
By default, backup compression is turned off on the server level.


Using this feature, the size of the backups can be kept small and the Backup and the restoration time will also be reduced.


To change the default configuration of Backup Compression, execute the below query

EXEC sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1
GO
RECONFIGURE

EXEC sp_configure 'backup compression default', 1
GO
RECONFIGURE
===============OR===============

Use the Server Properties


1.       1. Go to the “Server Properties”.
2.       2. Select “Database Settings
3.       3. Click on the Check box “Compress Backup”.
4.       4. Click OK.





To compress the backups, follow the below steps


1.       1. Right-Click on the database which you want to backup.
2.       2. And Select Tasks
3.       3. Under Tasks Menu, Click on the “Back up” Option



4       4. In the backup window, select the “Backup type” and add the Destination.





1.       5. Now go to the “Options” page and select the Compression Options.
There are 3 options under compression
a.       Use the Default Server Setting
b.      Compress Backup
c.       Do not Compress Backup


The option “Use the Default Server Setting” will use the value that is set in server level.
By default, it will not compress the backups. But in our case the default server settings has been changed at the first, so the backups will be compressed.


The option “Compress Backup” will compress the backups and the option “Do not Compress Backup” will not compress the backups.


Now select either option “Use the Default Server Setting” or “Compress Backup” as both options will compress the backup because of the changes done to the server level in the beginning.


.       6. Click OK.
.       7. In the similar way take the backup of the same database setting the Compression option to “Do not  Compress Backup” and check the size difference of the both the backups.
You will find that the size of the compressed backup will be less.


To download the detailed test cases and testing results click here.

This article is also available in pdf format for downloading.
Please Click here to get your copy.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Prevent Saving Changes in SQL 2008

Prevent Saving Changes is a new option that is introduced in SQL Server 2008. This option helps in preventing the unexpected changes that can happen on a table which includes dropping and re-creating the table.
By default, Prevent Saving Changes Option will set to ON in SQL Server 2008.

When you change a table so that you alter the metadata structure of the table, and then you save the table, the table must be re-created based on these changes. This may result in the loss of metadata and in a direct loss of data during the re-creation of the table. If you enable the Prevent saving changes that require the table re-creation option in the Designer section of the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) Options window, you receive the below error message

Saving changes is not permitted. The changes that you have made require the following tables to be dropped and re-created. You have either made changes to a table that can't be re-created or enabled the option Prevent saving changes that require the table to be re-created.

Demo:
Create a table named Tbl_PreventSavingChanges
            1. Expand the Database AdventureWorks.
            2. Right-Click on the Tables and select New Table





            3. Save the Table

Now change the data type of the column ChangingColumn from nchar(10) to nvarchar(10)


And click on save button and notice an error popping out



Now to overcome this error, first click on cancel button and come out of the error message.
            1. Go to "Options" under the "Tools" menu


            2. In the options, expand “Designers” and select “Table and Database Designers


            3. Now, Uncheck the option “Prevent saving Changes that require table re-creation



            4. Click OK
            5. Save the table. Now you will be able to save the table.

This article is also available in pdf format for downloading.
Please Click here to get your copy.

Ads