{"id":2914,"date":"2022-03-26T16:27:37","date_gmt":"2022-03-26T09:27:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/?page_id=2914"},"modified":"2022-04-05T09:05:55","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T02:05:55","slug":"sql-server-full-backup","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/sql-server-administration\/sql-server-full-backup\/","title":{"rendered":"SQL Server Full Backup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Summary<\/strong>: in this tutorial, you&#8217;ll learn how to create a full backup of a database and restore a database from the full backup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='introduction-to-sql-server-full-backup'>Introduction to SQL Server full backup <a href=\"#introduction-to-sql-server-full-backup\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"introduction-to-sql-server-full-backup\" title=\"Anchor for Introduction to SQL Server full backup\">#<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A full database backup backs up the whole database. It includes the following data:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The metadata of the database such as name, creation date, database options, file paths, and so on. <\/li><li>The used data pages of every data file.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, a full backup includes part of the transaction log. It represents the database at the time the backup is completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When doing a full backup, SQL Server may use a significant amount of disk I\/O. Therefore, you should perform a full backup at a time when the workload is low e.g., at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In practice, you&#8217;ll use a full backup as a baseline for a more advanced backup strategy. For example, you can combine a full backup with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/sql-server-administration\/sql-server-transaction-log-backup\/\">transaction log backups<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note that you must perform at least one full backup in order to perform other backup types like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/sql-server-administration\/sql-server-differential-backup\/\">differential backups<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/sql-server-administration\/sql-server-transaction-log-backup\/\">transaction log backups<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The following picture illustrates two full backups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"556\" height=\"463\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/SQL-Server-Full-Backup.png\" alt=\"SQL Server Full Backup\" class=\"wp-image-3038\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/SQL-Server-Full-Backup.png 556w, https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/SQL-Server-Full-Backup-300x250.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 556px) 100vw, 556px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In this picture, the first full backup contains id 1 and the second full backup contains id 1, 2, and 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='create-a-full-backup-of-a-database-using-t-sql'>Create a full backup of a database using T-SQL <a href=\"#create-a-full-backup-of-a-database-using-t-sql\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"create-a-full-backup-of-a-database-using-t-sql\" title=\"Anchor for Create a full backup of a database using T-SQL\">#<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To create a full backup of a database, you use the <code>BACKUP DATABASE<\/code> statement with the following syntax:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-1\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">BACKUP<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">DATABASE<\/span> database_name\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">TO<\/span> DISK = path_to_backup_file\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">WITH<\/span> options;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-1\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>In this syntax:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><code>database_name<\/code> is the name of the database that you want to back up. The database must exist and work normally on the server.<\/li><li><code>path_to_backup_file<\/code> is the path to the backup file. By convention, the extension of the backup is <code>bak<\/code>. If you store the backup file in a folder, that folder must exist because the statement won&#8217;t implicitly create the folder for you.<\/li><li><code>option<\/code> that follows the <code>WITH<\/code> keyword specifies one or more options for the backup.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='init-vs-noinit'>INIT vs NOINIT <a href=\"#init-vs-noinit\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"init-vs-noinit\" title=\"Anchor for INIT vs NOINIT\">#<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The INIT option appends to the existing backup on a file while the NOINIT option appends to the most recent backup. The NOINIT is the default option if you don&#8217;t specify INIT or NOINIT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='name'>NAME <a href=\"#name\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"name\" title=\"Anchor for NAME\">#<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <code>NAME<\/code> specifies the name of the backup. By default, the name of the backup is blank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides the <code>INIT<\/code>, <code>NOINIT<\/code>, and <code>NAME<\/code> options, The <code>BACKUP DATABASE<\/code> statement has other options that we&#8217;ll cover in the next tutorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s take the example of performing a full backup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, create the <code>HR<\/code> database with one table called <code>People<\/code> and insert four rows into it:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-2\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-comment\">-- drop the HR database<\/span>\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">USE<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">master<\/span>;\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">DROP<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">DATABASE<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">IF<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">EXISTS<\/span> HR;\n\n<span class=\"hljs-comment\">-- create the HR database<\/span>\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">CREATE<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">DATABASE<\/span> HR;\nGO\n\n<span class=\"hljs-comment\">-- create the People table<\/span>\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">USE<\/span> HR;\n\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">CREATE<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">TABLE<\/span> People (\n  <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">Id<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-built_in\">int<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">IDENTITY<\/span> PRIMARY <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">KEY<\/span>,\n  FirstName <span class=\"hljs-built_in\">varchar<\/span>(<span class=\"hljs-number\">50<\/span>) <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">NOT<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-literal\">NULL<\/span>,\n  LastName <span class=\"hljs-built_in\">varchar<\/span>(<span class=\"hljs-number\">50<\/span>) <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">NOT<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-literal\">NULL<\/span>\n);\n\n\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">INSERT<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">INTO<\/span> People (FirstName, LastName)\n  <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">VALUES<\/span> (<span class=\"hljs-string\">'John'<\/span>, <span class=\"hljs-string\">'Doe'<\/span>),\n  (<span class=\"hljs-string\">'Jane'<\/span>, <span class=\"hljs-string\">'Doe'<\/span>),\n  (<span class=\"hljs-string\">'Upton'<\/span>, <span class=\"hljs-string\">'Luis'<\/span>),\n  (<span class=\"hljs-string\">'Dach'<\/span>, <span class=\"hljs-string\">'Keon'<\/span>);\n\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">SELECT<\/span> * <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">FROM<\/span> People;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-2\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>Second, use the <code>BACKUP DATABASE<\/code> statement to back up the <code>HR<\/code> database to the <code>hr.bak<\/code> file located in the <code>D:\\backup\\<\/code> directory:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-3\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">BACKUP<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">DATABASE<\/span> HR \n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">TO<\/span>  DISK = <span class=\"hljs-string\">'D:\\backup\\hr.bak'<\/span>\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">WITH<\/span> INIT,\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">NAME<\/span> = <span class=\"hljs-string\">'HR-Full Database Backup'<\/span>;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-3\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>Note that the <code>D:\\backup\\<\/code> folder must exist before running the backup. The <code>BACKUP DATABASE<\/code> statement won&#8217;t create the folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, you&#8217;ll find the <code>hr.bak<\/code> file in the <code>D:\\backup<\/code> folder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Third, use the <code>RESTORE HEADERONLY<\/code> to read from the backup file:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-4\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">RESTORE<\/span> HEADERONLY   \n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">FROM<\/span> DISK =<span class=\"hljs-string\">'D:\\backup\\hr.bak'<\/span>;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-4\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>Output:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"914\" height=\"54\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/SQL-Server-Full-Backup-backup-file.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3031\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/SQL-Server-Full-Backup-backup-file.png 914w, https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/SQL-Server-Full-Backup-backup-file-300x18.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/SQL-Server-Full-Backup-backup-file-768x45.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 914px) 100vw, 914px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The output has a lot of information but the important ones are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Backup name<\/li><li>Backup Type (1 for full backup)<\/li><li>Position: 1 <\/li><li>Database: HR<\/li><li>Backup Size<\/li><li>Backup Start Date<\/li><li>Backup Finish Date<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='perform-multiple-full-backups-in-one-file'>Perform multiple full backups in one file <a href=\"#perform-multiple-full-backups-in-one-file\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"perform-multiple-full-backups-in-one-file\" title=\"Anchor for Perform multiple full backups in one file\">#<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>SQL Server allows you to store multiple backups in one backup file. To do that, you need to use the <code>NOINIT<\/code> option in the <code>WITH<\/code> clause. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, insert a new row into the <code>People<\/code> table:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-5\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">INSERT<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">INTO<\/span> People (FirstName, LastName)\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">VALUES<\/span> (<span class=\"hljs-string\">'Bob'<\/span>, <span class=\"hljs-string\">'Climo'<\/span>);<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-5\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>Second, perform a second full backup into the same backup file:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-6\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">BACKUP<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">DATABASE<\/span> HR \n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">TO<\/span>  DISK = <span class=\"hljs-string\">'D:\\backup\\hr.bak'<\/span>\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">WITH<\/span> NOINIT,\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">NAME<\/span> = <span class=\"hljs-string\">'HR-Full Database Backup'<\/span>;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-6\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>Third, examine the backup file:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"925\" height=\"73\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/SQL-Server-Full-Backup-multiple-backups.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3032\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/SQL-Server-Full-Backup-multiple-backups.png 925w, https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/SQL-Server-Full-Backup-multiple-backups-300x24.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/SQL-Server-Full-Backup-multiple-backups-768x61.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 925px) 100vw, 925px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The backup file has two full backups. The values in the position column specify the order of the backups. The value 1 indicates the first full backup while the value 2 represents the second full backup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the first backup, the <code>People<\/code> table has four rows while in the second backup, the <code>People<\/code> table has five rows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='restore-a-database-from-a-full-backup'>Restore a database from a full backup <a href=\"#restore-a-database-from-a-full-backup\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"restore-a-database-from-a-full-backup\" title=\"Anchor for Restore a database from a full backup\">#<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To restore a database, you use the <code>RESTORE DATABASE<\/code> statement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='the-restore-database-statement'>The RESTORE DATABASE statement <a href=\"#the-restore-database-statement\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"the-restore-database-statement\" title=\"Anchor for The RESTORE DATABASE statement\">#<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The following shows the syntax of the <code>RESTORE DATABASE<\/code> statement:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-7\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">RESTORE<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">DATABASE<\/span> database_name\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">FROM<\/span> DISK = path_to_backup_file\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">WITH<\/span> options;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-7\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>In this syntax:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><code>database_name<\/code> is the name of the database to restore.<\/li><li><code>path_to_backup_file<\/code> is the path to the backup file.<\/li><li><code>options<\/code> are one or more options for restoring the database.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s use the <code>RESTORE DATABASE<\/code> statement to restore the <code>HR<\/code> database from the full backup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='restoring-from-the-first-full-backup'>Restoring from the first full backup <a href=\"#restoring-from-the-first-full-backup\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"restoring-from-the-first-full-backup\" title=\"Anchor for Restoring from the first full backup\">#<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First, switch to the <code>master<\/code> database and drop the <code>HR<\/code> database:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-8\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">USE<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">master<\/span>;\n\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">DROP<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">DATABASE<\/span> HR;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-8\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>Second, restore the <code>HR<\/code> database from the first full backup:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-9\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">RESTORE<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">DATABASE<\/span> HR\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">FROM<\/span>  DISK = N<span class=\"hljs-string\">'D:\\backup\\hr.bak'<\/span>\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">WITH<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">FILE<\/span> = <span class=\"hljs-number\">1<\/span>;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-9\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>In this example, we restore the HR database from the backup file <code>D:\\backup\\hr.bak<\/code>. The value 1 in the <code>WITH FILE<\/code> clause instructs SQL Server to restore the first full backup. It is corresponding to the position of the backup file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Third, switch to the <code>HR<\/code> database and select data from the <code>People<\/code> table to verify:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-10\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">USE<\/span> hr;\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">SELECT<\/span> * <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">FROM<\/span> People;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-10\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>Output:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"121\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/SQL-Server-Full-Backup-restore-from-the-first-full-backup.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3034\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The query returns four rows as expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='restoring-from-the-second-full-backup'>Restoring from the second full backup <a href=\"#restoring-from-the-second-full-backup\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"restoring-from-the-second-full-backup\" title=\"Anchor for Restoring from the second full backup\">#<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First, switch to the <code>master<\/code> database and drop the <code>HR<\/code> database:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-11\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">USE<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">master<\/span>;\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">DROP<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">DATABASE<\/span> HR;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-11\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>Second, restore the <code>HR<\/code> database from the second full backup:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-12\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">RESTORE<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">DATABASE<\/span> HR\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">FROM<\/span>  DISK = N<span class=\"hljs-string\">'D:\\backup\\hr.bak'<\/span>\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">WITH<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">FILE<\/span> = <span class=\"hljs-number\">2<\/span>;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-12\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>The value 2 in the <code>WITH FILE<\/code> clause instructs SQL Server to restore the second backup from the backup file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Third, switch to the <code>HR<\/code> database and select data from the <code>People<\/code> table to verify:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-13\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">USE<\/span> hr;\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">SELECT<\/span> * <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">FROM<\/span> People;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-13\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>Output:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"223\" height=\"148\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/SQL-Server-Full-Backup-restore-from-the-second-full-backup.png\" alt=\"SQL Server Full Backup - restore from the second full backup\" class=\"wp-image-3037\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The query returns five rows as expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='summary'>Summary <a href=\"#summary\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"summary\" title=\"Anchor for Summary\">#<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Use the <code>BACKUP DATABASE<\/code> statement to create a full backup for a database.<\/li><li>Use the <code>WITH INIT<\/code> option to overwrite the backup and the <code>WITH NOINIT<\/code> option to append to the existing backup file.<\/li><li>Use the <code>RESTORE DATABASE<\/code> statement to restore a database from a full backup.<\/li><\/ul>\n<div class=\"helpful-block-content\" data-title=\"\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"wth-question\">Was this tutorial helpful?<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wth-thumbs\">\n\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\tdata-post=\"2914\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-post-url=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/sql-server-administration\/sql-server-full-backup\/\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-post-title=\"SQL Server Full Backup\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-response=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"wth-btn-rounded wth-yes-btn\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 24 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and SSMS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2903,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2914","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Create a Full Backup of a SQL Server Database<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this tutorial, you&#039;ll learn how to create a full backup of a SQL Server database using the BACKUP DATABASE statement and SSMS.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/sql-server-administration\/sql-server-full-backup\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta 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