Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 Databases — Question 61

You administer a Microsoft SQL Server database. The database is currently configured to log ship to a secondary server.
You are preparing to cut over to the secondary server by stopping log-shipping and bringing the secondary database online. You want to perform a tail-log backup.
You need to leave the primary database in a read-only state that can also have further transaction logs applied.
Which option of the BACKUP LOG command should you use?

Answer options

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is C, STANDBY, which allows the primary database to remain in a read-only state while still permitting additional transaction logs to be applied. Option A, FORMAT, is used to initialize the media for backup, which is not appropriate here. Option B, NO_TRUNCATE, retains log records but does not provide the desired read-only state. Option D, NORECOVERY, is used to indicate that the database is not ready to accept any additional transactions, which contradicts the requirement of leaving the primary database in a read-only state.