SQL Server Disaster Recovery: When Everything Is Down

SQL Server Disaster Recovery: When Everything Is Down


What do you do when your SQL Server Always On environment is down and the Windows Server Failover Cluster has lost quorum?

In real enterprise environments, disasters do not follow textbooks.

I’ve just published a 15-minute, hands-on recovery walkthrough showing how to:
✔ Force-start a WSFC node without quorum
✔ Temporarily reconfigure node voting to regain control
✔ Perform a forced manual failover of an Always On Availability Group
✔ Bring business-critical databases back online when no other option exists

This is not theory — this is a real DBA emergency playbook, executed under pressure and time constraints.

⚠️ Important note for DBAs:
FORCE_FAILOVER_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS should only be used when the original primary replica is permanently unavailable. This method prioritizes business continuity over zero data loss.

Watch the full recovery video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av-KmnDc25o

I’ve also shared the exact PowerShell and T-SQL commands used in the recovery so other professionals can learn, prepare, and respond faster when it matters most.
Preparedness saves minutes.
Minutes save systems.
Systems save businesses.


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Microsoft SQL Server Non-Contained Object Migration Deployment Procedure using Powershell

As a DBA we all face the challenge of migration databases from one servers to another or even the whole servers at some times. The Database Migration process is not always a simple Backup and Restore process so we might need a huge amount of effort if we have to migrate objects which are not included in the native backups for a specified database, these objects are called Non-Contained Objects. 

I have written a detailed article here. 

Enjoy ! 

SQL Server 2016 Express LocalDB

As Microsoft SQL Server 2016 comes with a lot of new and exciting features for SQL Server Database Administrators, the developers do not need to stay away. 
Microsoft SQL Server 2016 comes with the exciting new LocalDB feature.Its light, easy to install and no management required. So, easy to use with limitations as of SQL Express but no management required.
Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Express LocalDB is an execution mode of SQL Server Express targeted to program developers. LocalDB installation copies a minimal set of files necessary to start the SQL Server Database Engine. Once LocalDB is installed, developers initiate a connection by using a special connection string. When connecting, the necessary SQL Server infrastructure is automatically created and started, enabling the application to use the database without complex or time consuming configuration tasks. Developer Tools can provide developers with a SQL Server Database Engine that lets them write and test Transact-SQL code without having to manage a full server instance of SQL Server. An instance of SQL Server Express LocalDB is managed by using theSqlLocalDB.exe utility. SQL Server Express LocalDB should be used in place of the SQL Server Express user instance feature which is deprecated.

Reference : https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh510202.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396