Users of SolarWinds network products know that a Microsoft SQL Server database is a required component. Though all SolarWinds network products still include a utility called Database Manager its feature set is now limited to query operations.
So in this article, as a general courtesy to those who have been relying on Database Manager for backing-up and restoring SolarWinds product database, I'm going to provide steps for performing these operations using Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and in the context of moving an existing database from one SQL Server database server to another. The procedures are relevant to database created in SQL Server 2005 and 2008.
Backup
Using an administrator account, log on to the SQL Server database server where your SolarWinds product database currently resides.
Click Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 200X > SQL Server Management Studio.
Specify the server name of the current SolarWinds database server on the Connect to Server window.
If you are using SQL Server Authentication, click SQL Server Authentication in the Authentication field, and then specify your credentials in the User name and Password fields.
Click Connect.
In the pane on the left, expand the name of the server hosting the SQL instance you are using for your SolarWinds product, and then expand Databases.
Right-click the name of your SolarWinds database (for example, right-click "NCM_database), and then click Tasks > Back Up.
In the Source area, select Full as the Backup type.
In the Backup set area, provide an appropriate Name and Description for your database backup.
If there is not already an appropriate backup location listed in the Destination area, click Add, and then specify and remember the destination path and file name you provide. This is the location where your backup is stored. Note: Remember, if your database is on a remote server, as recommended, this backup file is also created on the remote database server; it is not created locally.
Click Options in Select a page pane on the left.
In the Reliability area, check Verify backup when finished.
Click OK.
Copy the .bak file from your current SolarWinds database server to your new database server.
Restore
Restoring a database happens differently depending on the version (2005/2008) of SQL Server you are running.
SQL Server 2005
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To restore your database backup file:
Log on to the new database server using an administrator account.
Click Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2005 > SQL Server Management Studio.
Click File > Connect Object Explorer.
Specify the name of the new SolarWinds database server on the Connect to Server window.
If you are using SQL Server Authentication, click SQL Server Authentication in the Authentication field, and then specify your credentials in the User name and Password fields.
Click Connect.
Click the name of your server to view an expanded list of objects associated with your server, and then right‑click Databases.
Click Restore Database.
Leave To database blank.
Click From device, and then browse (…) to the location of your .bak file.
Click Add, and then navigate to the .bak file and click OK.
Click OK on the Specify Backup window.
Check Restore.
Select the name of your database from the To database field. It will now be populated with the correct name. For example, select "NCM_database".
Click Options in the left Select a page pane.
Check Overwrite the existing database.
For each Original File Name listed, complete the following steps to ensure a successful restoration:
Click Browse (…).
Select a directory that already exists.
Provide a name for the Restore As file that matches the Original File Name, and then click OK.
Select Leave the database ready to use by rolling uncommitted transactions…(RESTORE WITH RECOVERY).
Click OK.
Open and run the appropriate SolarWinds Configuration Wizard to update your SolarWinds installation.
Select Database and follow the prompts. Note: Due to the nature of security identifiers (SIDs) assigned to SQL Server 2005 database accounts, SolarWinds recommends that you create and use a new account for accessing your restored Orion database on the Database Account window of the Orion Configuration Wizard.
SQL Server 2008
To restore your database backup file on a server running SQL Server 2008:
Log on to the new database server using an administrator account.
Click Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2008 > SQL Server Management Studio.
Click File > Connect Object Explorer.
Specify the name of the new SolarWinds database server on the Connect to Server window.
If you are using SQL Server Authentication, click SQL Server Authentication in the Authentication field, and then specify your credentials in the User name and Password fields.
Click Connect.
Click the name of your server to view an expanded list of objects associated with your server, and then right‑click Databases.
Click Restore Database.
Leave To database blank.
Select From device, and then click Browse (…).
Confirm that File is selected as the Backup media.
Click Add.
Navigate to the .bak file, select it, and then click OK.
Click OK on the Specify Backup window.
In the Destination for restore area, select the name of your database from the To database field. Note: The To database is now populated with the correct name. For example, select "NCM_database".
Check Restore next to the database backup you are restoring.
Click Options in the left Select a page pane.
Check Overwrite the existing database (WITH REPLACE).
For each Original File Name listed, complete the following steps to ensure a successful restoration:
Click Browse (…).
Select a directory that already exists.
Provide a name for the Restore As file that matches the Original File Name, and then click OK.
Select Leave the database ready to use by rolling uncommitted transactions…(RESTORE WITH RECOVERY), and then click OK.
Open and run the appropriate SolarWinds Configuration Wizard to update your SolarWinds installation.
Select Database and follow the prompts. Note: Due to the nature of security identifiers (SIDs) assigned to SQL Server 2008 database accounts, SolarWinds recommends that you create and use a new account for accessing your restored Orion database on the Database Account window of the Orion Configuration Wizard.