preety new to Sharepoint environment. i wanted to have my sharepoint sites and contents(all the sharepoint databases) backed up using SQL Server 2005. and restored as well when necessary.( all done by SQL tools not using sharepoint central admin or command line) but i am not sure if there is any other steps need to be taken while doing all backups and restore from SQL , espically with config database or anyother database. Since i am not quite famaliar with sharepoint environment. i did go to the most documentation and blogs i found but still wanted to know first hand if anybody had any problem.. Appreciate you feedback Derek

Drek,I will assume you know how to backup SQL DBs.If you want to restore some particular site collection/site/sub-site, the way I will do it is as follows:I would create another DB where I will apply the the backup DB restoration. Keep in mind I only back up/restore the content DB.eg. wss_content_02.14.2008 (backup DB) restored to wss_restoreThen, attach this content DB onto a test MOSS server. Do not attach it to your producction server since it will override the site collection/site/sub-site, etc.From the test MOSS server, import the site collection, site or sub-site. Then, move the exported folder/file over your producction MOSS and import it to the right site. This will override the current site.I hope it helps,...Alex

i am not sure but i read it technet site: Backup and restore will back up, but not restore, the following: The configuration database The Central Administration Web application The Central Administration content databa so is that mean we are not suppose to restore these above database... also once again i am preety new to sharepoint , is it right that each content database holds the data of each individual site collections. Apprecite it Derek

how does the restroing of config and central admin databse works if i have to rebuild my sql server. should i just create content databases and restore from respective backups and connect to web app and do nothing. or i have to create empty config and Central Admin database and has to restor from their backup as well. How does that work.appreciate your feedback. thanks t

how about backing up the *Content Database only ? and then prepare the new server with all SSP created and then attach the previously backed up Content DB into the new farm ?/* Infrastructure Support Engineer */

If you choose to only work with the SQL databases then you need to be familiar with all of the risks and things that are not in the database to be backed up. Config Database - In many cases this does not restore well and it is easier to build a new farm (with new Central Admin) and restore your content databases. In the case of MOSS versus WSS, this also means you need to reconfigure any other server settings. Non-DB Content and Artifacts - Any changes to the local files on the SharePoint server in the 12 hive are not in the database. Any manually copied images, scripts, or modifications to things like Themes would be lost.SharePoint MVP | Developer | Administrator | Speaker-- Twitter -- Blog - http://nextconnect.blogspot.com

thanks for your reply Mike, So in this case the Share Point CA farm level backup is the way to go here :-o ?/* Infrastructure Support Engineer */