Create a UAt DB environment

[ScottishFencer]

Hi There,

I apologise if this is a question that has been asked before. I am pretty sure the answer is totally obvious.

I have a full backup of several DBs. At present we are doing a lot of work in the existing Access front end - SQL Server (2k) backend. I am worried that something might go wrong and damage the database.

What I want to do is create a copy of the existing DBs based on the backups so that we can wreck them with impunity while we do development work. The only other option (the one I am using in the interim) is to work with the Live DB - which I know is bad practise.

I'm not overly new to SQL server but this is the first time I have attempted this.

I would appreciate any advice anyone can give.

PS I thought this would such a common question I looked straight in the FAQ. If i've missed the relevat piece feel free to point me in the right direction.

 

[mrdenny]

Your best bet will be to setup a dev server (so that it's an isolated enviroment from the production).

Then do a backup and restore of your database from production to dev. Have the Access database then look at the dev server.

If you can't get another SQL Server setup, I'd recommend installing a second instance of SQL 2000 on the server, and restoring the production database to the new instance. That way you've got a seperate enviroment to develope in and if you break it, you can just restore from production again.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com