SQL Server 2000 Backup + Restore question




Of course I'll try this before I go live, but I figured I'd ask
here first. I've read the docs, and the answer is unclear.

My current backup strategy is:

Take a full database backup occasionally (like, every two weeks).
Back up logs every five minutes.

This works, but restoring the database all the way through can
take a while, as I've sometimes spun through 800+ log restores.

I'd like to change to

Take a full database backup occasionally (like, every two weeks).
Take a differential backup every day.
Back up logs every five minutes.

So, I'd have this set of backups after day two

FULL
LOGS 1-100
DIFFERENTIAL
LOGS 101-200

When I go to restore, do I always have to do
FULL
DIFFERENTIAL
LOGS 101-200

or can I do

FULL
LOGS 1-100
LOGS 101-200?

I guess what I'm really asking is: is there any reason to keep
the "old" logs around (in this case 1-100), if I assume I always
have the latest differential?

I suppose I *might* need them to do a "point in time" restore,
i.e.
FULL
LOGS 1-53.

but assuming I never want to do that, can I discard the logs
that are earlier than my latest differential?


.



Relevant Pages

  • Re: NTBackup / No Entires Found
    ... Restoring part of an Exchange backup (just a ... database or some logs) wouldn't work and thus I guess its just trying to ... > But when going to "Restore and Manage Media", select the tape media, under ... > log files, Mailbox Store and Public folder Store, they all show "No ...
    (microsoft.public.exchange.admin)
  • Re: Is this normal
    ... it is constantly restoring the shipped logs. ... I have restored the database to the primary server and this has worked fine. ... The secondary server starts the restore and the log files are placed on the ...
    (microsoft.public.sqlserver.replication)
  • Re: problem replayin log files
    ... yes it gives me the range of logs and i can see all of them in the ... Restoring .... ... Target Instance: First Storage Group ... found) afte ...
    (microsoft.public.exchange.admin)
  • Re: SQL 2005 Log Shipping
    ... The logs are being backed up shipped and restored onto the ... single article on how to promote or activate, etc the secondary backup ... database and move it into a normal database instead of "Restoring". ...
    (microsoft.public.sqlserver)
  • Re: Roaming Profile wont connect
    ... Use the article to debug your user logon from the W2k machine. ... Attach the ... logs if it is unclear to you. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)