Restoring SQL Server database to another SQL Server instance

Question

If I have a SQL Server database backup, in order to restore it to another SQL Server instance, do I need to provide any password?

I tried restoring it but it didn't asked for a password to restore?

Welcome to SO, Have you tried researching the web on this subject? Can you share what you found so far — Tamir Klein
– Tamir Klein, Commented Mar 14, 2019 at 17:54
Did the restore fail? I feel like we're missing the other half of the story here. And you might get better response on the dba.stackexchange site — SS_DBA
– SS_DBA, Commented Mar 14, 2019 at 17:56
I found following SQL to backup the DB with password but "MEDIAPASSWOED" key word is not recognizing by SQL as a key word (BACKUP DATABASE Northwind TO DISK='C:\Northwind.BAK' WITH MEDIAPASSWORD='mssqltips') — Supun Nishantha
– Supun Nishantha, Commented Mar 14, 2019 at 18:39
From what i researched i got to know that you don't need a password to restore the DB to another server instance — Supun Nishantha
– Supun Nishantha, Commented Mar 14, 2019 at 18:42

Alexander Volok · Accepted Answer · 2019-03-14 20:17:21Z

1

If I have a SQL Server database backup, in order to restore it to another SQL Server instance, do I need to provide any password?

No, you do not need.

Older versions (before SQL Server 2012) had an option MEDIAPASSWORD

However it was retired in newer releases, therefore password protected backups cannot be created anymore on SQL Server 2012 and higher

At the same time old password-protected backups still can be restored using t-sql, an example:

RESTORE DATABASE YourDB FROM DISK='C:\Temp\YourDB.BAK' WITH MEDIAPASSWORD='secretPassword'

In modern versions of SQL Server backups can be protected more serious way using Backup Encryption

References:

answered Mar 14, 2019 at 20:17

Alexander Volok

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1 Comment

Thank you, this was really healpfull