Perform a database restore by using database tools

In Microsoft Azure SQL Solutions, database administrators often encounter scenarios where they need to restore a database to a previous state. This could be due to various reasons such as accidental data loss, application issues, or compliance requirements. In this article, we will explore how to perform a database restore using database tools provided by Azure SQL.

Tools for Database Restores in Azure SQL

Before we dive into the process, let’s briefly discuss the tools that Azure SQL provides for database restores:

1. Azure Portal: The Azure portal is a web-based interface that allows you to manage your Azure resources, including Azure SQL databases. It provides a user-friendly way to perform database restores.
2. Azure PowerShell: Azure PowerShell is a command-line tool that enables you to automate and manage Azure resources. It offers a set of cmdlets specifically designed for working with Azure SQL databases, including database restore operations.
3. Azure CLI: Azure CLI (Command-Line Interface) is another command-line tool that provides a cross-platform environment for managing Azure resources. Similar to Azure PowerShell, it offers commands for performing database restores.

Step-by-Step Guide

Now, let’s proceed with a step-by-step guide on how to perform a database restore using these tools:

Step 1: Select the Target Database

In the Azure Portal, navigate to the Azure SQL database that you want to restore. Select the database and click on the “Restore” option.

Step 2: Configure the Restore Settings

Fill in the required details such as the restore point, destination database name, and the server where the restored database will be hosted. You can choose to create a new server or restore to an existing server.

Step 3: Configure Advanced Restore Options

If needed, you can configure advanced restore options such as storage settings, network settings, and security-related options. These settings depend on your specific requirements.

Step 4: Confirm and Initiate the Restore

Review the restore configuration, and once you’re confident that everything is set correctly, click on the “OK” button to initiate the database restore process. This step may take some time depending on the database size and the selected restore point.

Apart from the Azure Portal, you can also perform the same database restore using Azure PowerShell or Azure CLI. Here’s an example of how you can achieve this using Azure PowerShell:

# Restore a database using Azure PowerShell
$resourceGroup = "YourResourceGroup"
$serverName = "YourAzureSqlServer"
$database = "YourDatabaseToRestore"
$targetServer = "YourTargetAzureSqlServer"
$targetDatabase = "YourTargetDatabaseName"

# Restore the database
Restore-AzSqlDatabase `
-FromPointInTimeBackup `
-ResourceId $restorePoint.ResourceId `
-TargetDatabaseName $targetDatabase `
-ServerName $targetServer `
-ResourceGroupName $resourceGroup

This PowerShell script retrieves the restore point from long-term retention backups and performs the database restore to the specified target server and database.

Similarly, you can achieve the database restore using Azure CLI with the following command:

# Restore a database using Azure CLI
az sql db restore `
--dest-name YourTargetDatabaseName `
--name YourDatabaseToRestore `
--resource-group YourResourceGroup `
--server YourAzureSqlServer `
--time YourRestoreTimestamp `
--target-server YourTargetAzureSqlServer `
--target-resource-group YourTargetResourceGroup

Replace the placeholders with the actual values specific to your Azure environment.

In conclusion, performing a database restore using database tools in Administering Microsoft Azure SQL Solutions is a straightforward process. Whether you prefer the Azure Portal, Azure PowerShell, or Azure CLI, you have multiple options to restore your database to a desired state. With these tools at your disposal, you can efficiently manage and restore your Azure SQL databases with ease.