Restoring from an copy of the offline database?

I have a question considering restores. If I take my database offline
the backup system will backup the .mdf and .ldf files making up the
database. Can these files be used to restore a SQL 2000 database.
The reason I ask is that we don't have enough space to create a full
back up and we cannot write directly to a tape device. I have no
problem detaching the database, letting that backup, then reattaching
it. However, if I am not here I'd rather leave instructions for my
boss to just take the database offline when he leaves for the weekend
and bring it back online Monday morning.This may work, but it is not guaranteed.
I would backup to a USB drive or a UNC share across the network. If you
don't have the space to handle a backup copy and a restore copy of the
database, you really shouldn't be running SQL Server.
HowTo: Backup to UNC name using Database Maintenance Wizard
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=555128
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
"Randy K" <wawork@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:44491b1e.70492156@.msnews.microsoft.com...
>I have a question considering restores. If I take my database offline
> the backup system will backup the .mdf and .ldf files making up the
> database. Can these files be used to restore a SQL 2000 database.
> The reason I ask is that we don't have enough space to create a full
> back up and we cannot write directly to a tape device. I have no
> problem detaching the database, letting that backup, then reattaching
> it. However, if I am not here I'd rather leave instructions for my
> boss to just take the database offline when he leaves for the weekend
> and bring it back online Monday morning.
>|||"Geoff N. Hiten" <SQLCraftsman@.gmail.com> wrote in message
news:eHCiDCXZGHA.4248@.TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> This may work, but it is not guaranteed.
> I would backup to a USB drive or a UNC share across the network. If you
> don't have the space to handle a backup copy and a restore copy of the
> database, you really shouldn't be running SQL Server.
We use the UNC share method all the time and in fact just upgraded to a Snap
4200 server.
Works very nicely for us. Not the fastest solution out there, but almost 3
times faster than our Snap Server 4100 was, so I'm happy.
(100+ gig in about 3 hours).
> HowTo: Backup to UNC name using Database Maintenance Wizard
> http://support.microsoft.com/?id=555128
>
> --
> Geoff N. Hiten
> Senior Database Administrator
> Microsoft SQL Server MVP
>
> "Randy K" <wawork@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:44491b1e.70492156@.msnews.microsoft.com...
> >I have a question considering restores. If I take my database offline
> > the backup system will backup the .mdf and .ldf files making up the
> > database. Can these files be used to restore a SQL 2000 database.
> >
> > The reason I ask is that we don't have enough space to create a full
> > back up and we cannot write directly to a tape device. I have no
> > problem detaching the database, letting that backup, then reattaching
> > it. However, if I am not here I'd rather leave instructions for my
> > boss to just take the database offline when he leaves for the weekend
> > and bring it back online Monday morning.
> >
> >
>|||Personally, I use the UNC share method for t-log backups and recent full
backups. I use tape drives for longer term backups and archiving. My NT
admins like me because I use the tape drives during daylight hours and the
network at night, both of which are low activity times for the respective
resources.
--
Geoff N. Hiten
Senior Database Administrator
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
"Greg D. Moore (Strider)" <mooregr_deleteth1s@.greenms.com> wrote in message
news:elfo4aaZGHA.3652@.TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> "Geoff N. Hiten" <SQLCraftsman@.gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:eHCiDCXZGHA.4248@.TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> This may work, but it is not guaranteed.
>> I would backup to a USB drive or a UNC share across the network. If you
>> don't have the space to handle a backup copy and a restore copy of the
>> database, you really shouldn't be running SQL Server.
> We use the UNC share method all the time and in fact just upgraded to a
> Snap
> 4200 server.
> Works very nicely for us. Not the fastest solution out there, but almost
> 3
> times faster than our Snap Server 4100 was, so I'm happy.
> (100+ gig in about 3 hours).
>
>> HowTo: Backup to UNC name using Database Maintenance Wizard
>> http://support.microsoft.com/?id=555128
>>
>> --
>> Geoff N. Hiten
>> Senior Database Administrator
>> Microsoft SQL Server MVP
>>
>> "Randy K" <wawork@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:44491b1e.70492156@.msnews.microsoft.com...
>> >I have a question considering restores. If I take my database offline
>> > the backup system will backup the .mdf and .ldf files making up the
>> > database. Can these files be used to restore a SQL 2000 database.
>> >
>> > The reason I ask is that we don't have enough space to create a full
>> > back up and we cannot write directly to a tape device. I have no
>> > problem detaching the database, letting that backup, then reattaching
>> > it. However, if I am not here I'd rather leave instructions for my
>> > boss to just take the database offline when he leaves for the weekend
>> > and bring it back online Monday morning.
>> >
>> >
>>
>|||Thank you for your suggestions!
Another question we have concerns the maximum size for the physical
database files when building VLDBs. This database will start out
about 2TB growing to 4 over the next year and a half. I haven't
been able to find anything on this subject. With two 1TB LUNs is
250GB too large for individual database files?
On Sun, 23 Apr 2006 23:41:08 -0400, "Geoff N. Hiten"
<SQLCraftsman@.gmail.com> wrote:
>Personally, I use the UNC share method for t-log backups and recent full
>backups. I use tape drives for longer term backups and archiving. My NT
>admins like me because I use the tape drives during daylight hours and the
>network at night, both of which are low activity times for the respective
>resources.
>--
>Geoff N. Hiten
>Senior Database Administrator
>Microsoft SQL Server MVP
>
>"Greg D. Moore (Strider)" <mooregr_deleteth1s@.greenms.com> wrote in message
>news:elfo4aaZGHA.3652@.TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> "Geoff N. Hiten" <SQLCraftsman@.gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:eHCiDCXZGHA.4248@.TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> This may work, but it is not guaranteed.
>> I would backup to a USB drive or a UNC share across the network. If you
>> don't have the space to handle a backup copy and a restore copy of the
>> database, you really shouldn't be running SQL Server.
>> We use the UNC share method all the time and in fact just upgraded to a
>> Snap
>> 4200 server.
>> Works very nicely for us. Not the fastest solution out there, but almost
>> 3
>> times faster than our Snap Server 4100 was, so I'm happy.
>> (100+ gig in about 3 hours).
>>
>> HowTo: Backup to UNC name using Database Maintenance Wizard
>> http://support.microsoft.com/?id=555128
>>
>> --
>> Geoff N. Hiten
>> Senior Database Administrator
>> Microsoft SQL Server MVP
>>
>> "Randy K" <wawork@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:44491b1e.70492156@.msnews.microsoft.com...
>> >I have a question considering restores. If I take my database offline
>> > the backup system will backup the .mdf and .ldf files making up the
>> > database. Can these files be used to restore a SQL 2000 database.
>> >
>> > The reason I ask is that we don't have enough space to create a full
>> > back up and we cannot write directly to a tape device. I have no
>> > problem detaching the database, letting that backup, then reattaching
>> > it. However, if I am not here I'd rather leave instructions for my
>> > boss to just take the database offline when he leaves for the weekend
>> > and bring it back online Monday morning.
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>