What is a full database backup?
A full database backup captures the entire database at the point in time the backup finishes. It includes all data, objects, and transaction log records required to restore the database to the state it was in when the backup completed.
How often should I perform transaction log backups?
The frequency depends on your recovery point objective (RPO). For high‑availability systems, log backups every 5‑15 minutes are common, while less critical environments may schedule them hourly.
Can I restore a database to a point in time?
Yes. Using a combination of a full backup, differential backups (optional), and transaction log backups, you can restore the database to any point in time within the backup window.
What is the difference between a differential backup and a transaction log backup?
A differential backup includes all data pages changed since the last full backup. A transaction log backup records all log records generated since the previous log backup, enabling point‑in‑time recovery.
How do I verify a backup file?
Use the
RESTORE VERIFYONLY command to confirm the backup set is readable and not corrupted. For instance:
RESTORE VERIFYONLY FROM DISK = N'C:\Backups\MyDB_full.bak';