databasedatabase-backupspervasivepervasive-sql

How to restore a Pervasive Db backup?


I need to ask one of our customers for a db backup of their Pervasive DB. I went through the online material available in this area and surprisingly, there is very little information available. Appreciate any help in this area.

Mainly I have two questions.

1) What are the types of files I should request from the customer, as the backup files? Because, they have sent me two files (these files do not have any file extension) and I could not figure out what the file types are nor how to restore them. I tried renaming them as .DDF, but no luck.

2) After getting the files from them, how do I restore the db? As far as I understand, I can paste these files to a location in Pervasive DB installation folder and then the server should be identifying the database.

Thank you.


Solution

  • The easiest way to back up a Pervasive database is to stop the engine (or at least make sure everyone has closed any Pervasive data files) and copy the files in the data directory to another location. The files to be copied are all of the files in the data directory and dictionary location in the Pervasive Database entry.

    Pervasive data files can have any (or no) extension. I've seen MKD, BTR, DAT, DBF, DB, and even no extension although that is rare.

    Restoring the database is just as simple. Take the copies of the Dictionary files (*.DDF) and the the Data files (from the data directory), put them on the new machine with the a version of the Pervasive engine greater than or equal to the original version and create a new Pervasive Database entry pointing to the new directories.

    Each database is potentially different so you'd want to check your database for the locations.
    The Database properties in the Pervasive Control Center will show the Database properties will show the Dictionary Location and the Data Directory: Dictionary and Data directories screenshot