SQL Server Recovery

SQL Server DBCC CHECKDB: An Overview

Andrew Jackson ~ Modified: March 18th, 2023 ~ SQL, SQL Server 2016 ~ 4 Minutes Reading

sql-server-dbcc-checkdb

Database management is very essential for the establishment of the successful business. SQL Server plays a very significant role in this field. Most of the organizations use it for keeping their data appropriately. It has various features that help to retain the data security. One of these inbuilt features is DBCC CHECKDB command. Let us take some basic knowledge about the same in this blog.

Table of Content

What is DBCC CHECKDB Command

DBCC Checkdb command checks the logical as well as physical integrity of all objects in database by executing the below-mentioned operations:

  • Executing DBCC CHECKALLOC on database helps to verify the consistency of the disk-space distribution structures for indicated database.
  • Running DBCC CHECKTABLE on database checks the data pages and verify the integrity of the data pages with its associated tables. Also, it verifies the indexes of that table.
  • DBCC CHECKCATALOG on SQL Server database performs the consistency check between system metadata tables. It also checks the consistency of catalog in the database.
  • It validates or authenticates the content of each indexed view in database. Moreover, it also authenticates the link-level uniformity between the table metadata and the directories of file system and file at the time-saving varbinary (max) data in file system via FILESTREAMS.
  • Apart from this, it also validates Service Broker data in SQL Server database.

Advantage of SQL Server DBCC CHECKDB Command

  • DBCC Checkdb helps in analysing the incorrect data results.
  • It helps in knowing us the failed SQL commands.
  • DBCC Checkdb give you alert about the corruption before it gets too bad.

How to Run DBCC CHECKDB in SQL Server?

It does not have a complicated structure to handle. You can use it easily without anyone assistance.The basic syntax of DBCC CHECKDB is:

DBCC CHECKDB (“DatabaseName”)

Options with SQL Server DBCC CHECKDB: These are the options with DBCC CHECKDB:

NOINDEX: It indicates that rigorous check of the nonclustered indexes for the user tables should be avoided. This lessens the complete execution time. This option does not affect the tables of the system as integrity checks are executed on system table indexes.

DATA_PURITY: It redirects DBCC CHECKDB to verify the database for column values, which are invalid/ out-of-range.

Let us take an example. DBCC CHECKDB in SQL server finds the columns along with time and data values, which are larger than/ less than the suitable range for datetime data type; or approximate-numeric or decimal data type columns along with precision or scale values that are invalid.

PHYSICAL_ONLY: It restricts the checking to integrity of physical layout of page and records the headers and allocation consistency of database. PHYSICAL_ONLY check is developed for giving a little overhead check of physical consistency of SQL database.

However, it can even detect torn pages, common hardware failure, and checksum failures that can consist of the data of users.

TABLOCK: This option causes DBCC CHECKDB command to get locks instead of accessing a snapshot of internal database. It contains a short-term exclusive lock on database.

Moreover, TABLOCK will direct DBCC CHECKDB to run quickly on SQL database under the heave load. However, lessens the concurrency obtainable on database during DBCC CHECKDB is in running mode.

NO_INFOMSGS: It suppresses all the information messages.

The Solution to Repair SQL Server Database with SQL Server DBCC CHECKDB

In case, If you do not have the backup, then it is suggested to use DBCC CHECKDB with the following repair options. However, first of all, users must check active transactions in SQL server as well.

REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS: This command tries to repair all the reported errors. However, these repairs may loss some your data.

REPAIR_REBUILD: It executes the repair, which have no possibility of data loss. It can include instant repairs like repairing the missing rows in a non-clustered index & more time- taking repairs like rebuilding an index.

As I have mentioned above, that backup of data is very essential in recovery process. However, if you do not have the backup then apart from these commands, you can opt for third party tool to repair SQL Server database.

It is developed to repair the SQL Server data files without any data loss. The software is reliable and can be used without any trouble.

Also Read: Solve Microsoft SQL Server Error 823 Automatically 

Conclusion

The blog discusses about the DBCC CHECKDB command, how you can use it and its various arguments related to that command. It also covers the solution to repair DBCC CHECKDB command both, manually and by automated software.