Sql-server – SQL Server Backup Database not .bak file format

backuprestoresql server

I've been using SQL Server 2012 for as long as I can remember. When I do a backup it's always saved as .bak file format. However, there's this other server that has SQL Server 2012 and when I do a backup, it's not saved as .bak but just a generic 'file' file format. When I try to restore this file it works just fine. I'd just like to know why it didn't save as .bak file. In other servers that I've worked on it's always .bak. Thank you so much.

Best Answer

Take a look at the command that is generating the backups (it could be a job, a maintenance plan, 3rd party tool, etc.).

You can give the file any extension you like, including no extension. Windows Explorer might not know what on earth it is, but SQL Server will still be able to restore it just fine.

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Sql-server – SQL Server backup, attach to BAK file

First there's no way using the native tools to mount a backup file and read the data in it. That said, what you can do is write your version information into the description of the backup using the DESCRIPTION keyword. Then read this information using the RESTORE DATABASE WITH HEADERONLY to get the information and make sure that they have the correct version.

Sql-server – SQL Recover from .bak file with NOINIT

That's because by not specifying the FILE parameter of RESTORE DATABASE, it is defaulting to 1 which will be the 1st backup set on that media. See the section on this page of Specifying a Backup Set.

Instead of:

restore database YourDb
from disk = 'C:\yourpath\backupfile.bak';
go

You will want to do:

restore database YourDb
from disk = 'C:\yourpath\backupfile.bak'
with file = <n>;
go

Where N is the backup set number in the media. N can be obtained from running RESTORE HEADERONLY on the media. The column you will be concerned with is Position to use with the FILE option.

Best Answer

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Sql-server – SQL Server backup, attach to BAK file

Sql-server – SQL Recover from .bak file with NOINIT

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