[sims] SIMS Backup test

[Theldron]

Hi all,

 

How does everyone do a SIMS Backup test? As I have been asked if my daily sims backups have been tested lately but I have never done it as I assume we would need a spare server to do this?

 

How would I go about checking this?

 

I check my normal backups on a regular basis, but I havent specifically tested SIMS.

 

Cheers

Sean

Edited January 25, 2017 by Theldron

[3s-gtech]

Normally, I'd copy the virtual disks of my SIMS server across to a new instance without network connectivity, log onto that and try a restore. I can test SIMS itself from within the server so it being isolated wouldn't matter.

[Theldron]

Unfortunately we are not virtualised at the moment.

[Esteban_Child_of_the_Sun]

I usually install SQL express on a laptop and copy the backup to the laptop and restore it on the laptop as if it were the server. That way toy can isolate it fromt he network once it has all the files and not interfear with the live SIMS or associated programs.

[3s-gtech]

Unfortunately we are not virtualised at the moment.

 

Shouldn't matter - that just saves time so I don't have to install Windows + SQL + various SIMS installs. The main thing is to have a running MSSQL server on a machine, patched and ready to test the DB on. If that machine's name and IP address differ from the original server, you may have to play with the connect.ini to get SIMS to load after restoring.

[ItsOggy]

VM here, I normally restore to a VM on a test server, and check it works, before each upgrade!

 

Also useful for trying big changes to things before doing it live!