SQL SERVER – 2008 – Introduction to Snapshot Database – Restore From Snapshot

Snapshot database is one of the most interesting concepts that I have used at some places recently.

Here is a quick definition of the subject from Book On Line:

A Database Snapshot is a read-only, static view of a database (the source database). Multiple snapshots can exist on a source database and can always reside on the same server instance as the database. Each database snapshot is consistent, in terms of transactions, with the source database as of the moment of the snapshot’s creation. A snapshot persists until it is explicitly dropped by the database owner.

If you do not know how Snapshot database work, here is a quick note on the subject. However, please refer to the official description on Book-on-Line for accuracy. Snapshot database is a read-only database created from an original database called the “source database”. This database operates at page level. When Snapshot database is created, it is produced on sparse files; in fact, it does not occupy any space (or occupies very little space) in the Operating System. When any data page is modified in the source database, that data page is copied to Snapshot database, making the sparse file size increases. When an unmodified data page is read in the Snapshot database, it actually reads the pages of the original database. In other words, the changes that happen in the source database are reflected in the Snapshot database.

-- Create Snapshot Database
CREATE DATABASE SnapshotDB ON
(Name ='RegularDB',
FileName='c:\SSDB.ss1')
AS SNAPSHOT OF RegularDB;
GO
-- Select from Regular and Snapshot Database
SELECT * FROM RegularDB.dbo.FirstTable;
SELECT * FROM SnapshotDB.dbo.FirstTable;
GO

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