December 20, 2011 at 11:32 pm
Hey folks,
I have not administered sharepoint databases till yet. Also I haven't performed any patching/upgrade of any sharepoint database till now. However, recently I have been offered for a DBA position where I have to look after sharepoint databases.
So, I just wanted to know from our experts that:
1. Is there any significant difference between normal SQL Server databases maintenance & sharepoint databases maintenance ?
2. How to go about upgrading if I need to upgrade the shreapoint databases to SQL Server 2008 from SQL Server 2005 ?
3. Is there any special consideration/change in backup-restore process for sharepoint databases ?
4. How to move (in case I need to do that) sharepoint databases from one server to other server ? Is it like we do for normal databases or is there any special consideration for that also ?
I understand what I am asking is a whole chapter, however I will be glad if someone who is looking after sharepoint databases can provide me helpful links to study & understand the above mentioned processes in context of shrepoint databases :-).
Thanks a lot !
December 21, 2011 at 12:51 am
I don't know a lot of SharePoint databases (lucky me!), but I know the following:
* they are fond of using GUIDS (bleh)
* they have very cryptic names for their databases
* they are just databases in SQL Server like any other databases
But, they probably have more security, so you'll need to backup master encryption keys et cetera, and SharePoint is configured to look for those databases on a specific server. So if you move them, you'll need to adapt the SharePoint configuration (just like with ReportServer and the Reporting Services databases).
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
December 21, 2011 at 12:52 am
Oh yeah, I forgot:
a few years ago, the SharePoint team published a white paper with "advice" on how to administer those databases. It was full of bad practices and the SQL Server community received it with a lot of laughter. I think they made an update to that white paper, but I'm not sure. So be careful with advice that you find on the net.
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
December 21, 2011 at 1:21 am
Koen Verbeeck (12/21/2011)
Oh yeah, I forgot:a few years ago, the SharePoint team published a white paper with "advice" on how to administer those databases. It was full of bad practices and the SQL Server community received it with a lot of laughter. I think they made an update to that white paper, but I'm not sure. So be careful with advice that you find on the net.
Thanks Koen! I am not sure if you are talking about the pdf file available at below link :unsure:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee721075(office.12).aspx
I have already downloaded that.Tell me pleeeease if you are talking about this book :hehe:
December 21, 2011 at 1:32 am
Divine Flame (12/21/2011)
Koen Verbeeck (12/21/2011)
Oh yeah, I forgot:a few years ago, the SharePoint team published a white paper with "advice" on how to administer those databases. It was full of bad practices and the SQL Server community received it with a lot of laughter. I think they made an update to that white paper, but I'm not sure. So be careful with advice that you find on the net.
Thanks Koen! I am not sure if you are talking about the pdf file available at below link :unsure:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee721075(office.12).aspx
I have already downloaded that.Tell me pleeeease if you are talking about this book :hehe:
It certainly looks like that, as there is a chapter at the end talking about shrinking files.
http://www.brentozar.com/archive/2009/08/stop-shrinking-your-database-files-seriously-now/
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
December 21, 2011 at 2:55 am
Allright, I asked some of the guru's on the thread, and Gail said that this one is indeed terrible (and I do trust Gail).
Actually, this is the predecessor of an even worse white paper:
http://sqlskills.com/BLOGS/PAUL/post/SharePoint-2010-database-maintenance-whitepaper.aspx
Luckily Paul Randal made some improvements to the document.
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
December 21, 2011 at 4:06 am
Koen Verbeeck (12/21/2011)
Allright, I asked some of the guru's on the thread, and Gail said that this one is indeed terrible (and I do trust Gail).Actually, this is the predecessor of an even worse white paper:
http://sqlskills.com/BLOGS/PAUL/post/SharePoint-2010-database-maintenance-whitepaper.aspx
Luckily Paul Randal made some improvements to the document.
Thanks Koen for guiding me on this. And Yes, I too trust Gail 🙂 Therefore I think I should start looking for some other document :hehe:
December 21, 2011 at 6:44 am
Divine Flame (12/20/2011)
Hey folks,I have not administered sharepoint databases till yet. Also I haven't performed any patching/upgrade of any sharepoint database till now. However, recently I have been offered for a DBA position where I have to look after sharepoint databases.
So, I just wanted to know from our experts that:
1. Is there any significant difference between normal SQL Server databases maintenance & sharepoint databases maintenance ?
2. How to go about upgrading if I need to upgrade the shreapoint databases to SQL Server 2008 from SQL Server 2005 ?
3. Is there any special consideration/change in backup-restore process for sharepoint databases ?
4. How to move (in case I need to do that) sharepoint databases from one server to other server ? Is it like we do for normal databases or is there any special consideration for that also ?
I understand what I am asking is a whole chapter, however I will be glad if someone who is looking after sharepoint databases can provide me helpful links to study & understand the above mentioned processes in context of shrepoint databases :-).
Thanks a lot !
I am no expert, you may want to bounce this off someone like Dan English.
1) Not that I have seen, although 1 sharepoint instance can have many db's in sp 2010
2) I recall SP3 for Sharepoint 2007 was required before we moved.
3) Version of Sharepoint and services being run will play some part. Example SP 2007 where PerformancePoint was a separate piece, where on SP 2010 it is more integrated. I also recall some built in tools starting in SP 2007, which could be helpful. But running PerformancePoint, it left a lot to be desired for us.
4) stsadm command line tool to hook up web site front end to the database.
In our case, mostly I have only had to deal with restoration of just the content database, and on a standalone (not a farm) instance of SP.
Some of what you are asking can depend on the version of Sharepoint you are running.
For example, from SP 2007 Enterprise running PerformancePoint to SP 2010, you would attach the content db, using stsadm, which will also do an upgrade. And then you have to import the PerformancePoint content, after some additional configuration, and then fix and redeploy all the dashboards.
Happy Holidays!
December 21, 2011 at 8:15 am
Thanks Greg for your valuable inputs 🙂
December 21, 2011 at 8:26 am
Divine Flame (12/21/2011)
Therefore I think I should start looking for some other document :hehe:
Get the one that Paul rewrote. If anyone knows how to admin SQL properly it's him (see link that Koen posted)
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability
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