- What Are DB Snapshots?
- How Does It Work?
- Benefits of DB Snapshots
- Disadvantages of DB Snapshots
- Does It Measure Up?
- DB Snapshots Versus Oracle
- Conclusion
DB Snapshots Versus Oracle
I can’t help but compare this feature with Oracle’s options for guarding against user errors. Oracle provides a host of features that help you recover data and database objects. The LogMiner feature helps you look into the transaction log and also provides "Undo" SQL statements for any statements in the transaction log. Oracle also has the Flashback technology that’s similar to the DB snapshot, but there’s no requirement that snapshots be created. For a detailed comparison between Oracle and SQL Server disaster recovery features, see this Microsoft white paper.
I’m not sure why Microsoft has chosen to ignore the potential of exposing the transaction log. It would be very easy to recover from user errors, if you knew the changes that were made. It’s even more puzzling when you consider that there are commercial products (such as the popular Log Explorer) that allow you to view the transactions inside the SQL Server transaction log.