In SQL Server recovery planning, under which recovery model are all database changes fully logged, enabling point-in-time recovery using transaction log backups?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Full recovery

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Recovery models control logging behavior, log truncation, and restore capabilities. This question asks which model fully logs all changes and supports point-in-time recovery.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Recovery models considered: FULL, SIMPLE, BULK_LOGGED.
  • Requirement: all changes fully logged and restorable to a specific time.
  • Log backups are taken regularly.


Concept / Approach:

FULL recovery model logs every change. With a sequence of full/differential plus transaction log backups, you can restore to a particular point in time by replaying log records up to a marked stop time.



Step-by-Step Solution:

1) FULL: every operation fully logged; requires log backups to truncate.2) SIMPLE: logging still occurs but log is truncated automatically and no log backups → no point-in-time restore.3) BULK_LOGGED: minimal logging for certain bulk operations; point-in-time may be limited during those operations.4) Therefore, the model that always fully logs and supports point-in-time is FULL.


Verification / Alternative check:

Test a restore chain with FULL model: full backup → several log backups; restore to a specific time using STOPAT.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Differential recovery: not a recovery model. SIMPLE: no log backups, cannot do point-in-time. BULK_LOGGED: may prevent point-in-time during bulk operations.



Common Pitfalls:

Thinking “simple = no logging”; SQL Server always logs, but SIMPLE truncates log and disallows log backups. Mislabeling “differential” as a model (it is a backup type).



Final Answer:

Full recovery

More Questions from SQL Server 2000

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion