Revolutionize the way you provision SQL Server databases and help your team develop, test, and ship changes faster
Take the pain out of creating and managing copies of production databases, so you and your team can ship changes faster
SQL Clone is a database provisioning tool that lets you create full copies of SQL Server databases and backups in seconds, using around 40 MB of disk space per clone.
Instead of spending hours provisioning multiple copies of your database for development, testing, or diagnostics, SQL Clone creates a single ‘image’ of a SQL Server database or backup, which is used as the source for multiple clones.
Each clone works just like a normal database, but takes only a few seconds to create and requires only around 40MB of disk space.
With SQL Clone's web app and built-in PowerShell automation, DBAs spend much less time on provisioning requests. Meanwhile, developers and testers can work on up-to-date, isolated copies of the database to speed up development, accurately test code, and fix issues faster.
What's new in version 4
The SQL Clone dashboard
Save up to 99% storage space
Save time provisioning
Central view of database copies
Fewer provisioning requests
Local, isolated development
Accurate testing using realistic data
| Save up to 99% disk space | |
It requires about 5 TB of disk space to create or refresh ten copies of a 500 GB database, when you use a traditional provisioning technique such as restoring from a backup. SQL Clone creates just one full copy, called an ‘image’, and then multiple clones can be created from that image. Changes made to a clone are stored locally, so each clone is independent of any other. Even a 64 TB database requires only tens of MB of local disk space and, suddenly, creating ten copies of a 500 GB database requires only a little over 500 GB of initial storage space. This smart reuse of bytes removes the need to spend hours juggling disk space, and allows teams to work in isolation on their own workstations to develop, test and fix code.
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| Save time provisioning | |
Even if you have enough disk space to accommodate multiple database copies, traditional provisioning processes are fundamentally too slow to support the team’s requirements. SQL Clone allows you to copy a database up to 64 TB in just seconds. This rapid provisioning allows individuals to work on their own isolated copy of the database, test in parallel and experiment while being able to refresh clones in seconds, on demand. With SQL Clone's PowerShell automation, images and clones can be created easily and quickly, for example during a night-time maintenance window.
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| Stay in control of provisioning | |
The SQL Clone web app offers a single source of truth for the creation, management and removal of images and clones. Take a central view of what clones have been created, how much disk space they’re using, when they were created, and by who. Teams enables you to manage access to database instances, images and clones for multiple teams and Active Directory groups. Control which instances specific users can use to create clones and images, enabling safe self-service and delegation for DevOps and CI.
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| Improve team productivity | |
SQL Clone frees up time previously spent on restoring backups, managing disk space and handling sensitive data. This enables DBAs to be more effective in helping to improve DevOps processes and advise on concerns such as database architecture, performance, security and configuration. The tiny footprint of clones and precise control over user permissions enables the transition to dedicated development environments to boost experimentation and problem-solving. Automation and self-service means data can be refreshed instantly, and on demand, so data compatibility issues can be found earlier. And Teams keeps developers focused on the images and clones assigned to their project. The result for the business is a shift towards continuous delivery of tested, reliable changes to the customer.
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| Mask sensitive data | |
Remove the risk of exposing sensitive data in non-production environments by running masking operations during the image creation. Clones will contain masked data and will look and perform like real data for development and testing purposes. SQL Provision integrates SQL Clone with Data Masker for SQL Server. Using SQL Provision, you can run masking sets defined in Data Masker during the image creation in SQL Clone. Masked data still looks and performs like real data and the process is simple and repeatable.
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“A big win for us is giving each developer the freedom to work on their own database.”
“SQL Provision has enabled us to deliver reliable data environments 720 times faster.”
“It was really easy to use. In some cases, cloned machines were performing even better than real ones!”
Technology overview
Understand the technology behind SQL Clone. We explain why clones are so small, why they take seconds to create, and why SQL Server thinks it's working with a full copy of the database.
Read the overview
Bloor InBrief: Redgate SQL Provision
"[SQL Clone and Data Masker] allows you to create and distribute masked, production-like copies of your data wherever it is required, principally for development and testing." - Bloor Analyst
Download the report
How Paymentsense cut provisioning time 85%
Read about how Paymentsense, the UK’s largest merchant service provider, cut provisioning time by 85% and transformed the way teams work.
Read the case study
Pricing is based on the total volume of data in all production databases that you would like to provision or mask from, and the length of your subscription. More info
Examples
2TB databaseTo provision a 2TB database you need a 3TB capacity license of SQL Clone. Licensing is based on tiers and the 3TB tier allows you to provision data up to 3TB.5 production databases with different schemasIf you have five production databases with different schemas, each 1.5TB in size (a total of 7.5TB of data), you would need a 10TB capacity license of SQL Clone to clone all your databases.A subset of a 10TB databaseIf you only need to provision or mask a subset of a 10TB database, you either need a 10TB license, as this is the size of the production database, or to subset out the data you want to work with into a separate database before using SQL Clone.Data warehouse or backupsTo clone from a 3TB production database, and backups at different points in the database's history, you only need a 3TB tier license. This is because you are cloning from the same database at different points in its life.1 Year Subscription
$9,630
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1 Year Subscription
$19,350
Buy now
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personalized quote
Get in touch
Whether you want more details on our tool, a chat about provisioning best practice, or you’ve hit a snag, we’re here to help.
- 01223 437 911
- sqlclone@red-gate.com
- Purchasing FAQ
Start cloning databases today – save up to 99% disk space and cut provisioning time from hours to seconds.
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SQL Provision - Create, protect, and manage SQL Server database copies for compliant DevOps
With the virtual cloning technology in SQL Clone, databases can be created in seconds using just MB of storage, allowing for isolated development and testing. Sensitive data can be anonymized or replaced with realistic data using Data Masker, to ensure data is protected as it moves between environments.
Learn more
Part of our Compliant Database DevOps solution
Redgate’s Compliant Database DevOps solution lets you extend your DevOps practices to databases so that you can optimize productivity, agility and performance across the full database lifecycle and become a truly high performing IT organization.
From safely making a change in development through to monitoring its impact in production, Redgate is with you every step of the way. We give you the tools and insight you need to optimize your development processes, so you can keep your team moving, keep adding value and keep your data safe.
Learn more about the benefits
FAQs
How do I clone a SQL Server database? ›
...
Select database
- Move. Move the database to the destination server.
- Copy. Copy the database to the destination server.
- Source. ...
- Status. ...
- Refresh.
The short version is that SQL Clone reads a source database or backup file, that can be anywhere up to 64TB, and restores it into a Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) on a file share which your developers should have read access to.
Can you clone a SQL Server? ›You can use SnapCenter to clone a SQL Server database backup. If you want to access or restore an older version of the data, you can clone database backups on demand. Using SnapCenter, you can create clones from a resource group or database.
How can I create a duplicate database in SQL Server without data? ›- Separate the script from the source database, and run it for a fresh, empty database, this can also be the target to copy the objects in source database.
- Backup source database retrieve backup to target database, and then delete the data in the table.
- Using the Copy Database Wizard. You can use the Copy Database Wizard to copy or move databases between servers or to upgrade a SQL Server database to a later version. ...
- Restoring a database backup. ...
- Using the Generate Scripts Wizard to publish databases.
In SQL Server Object Explorer, under the SQL Server node, expand your connected server instance. Right-click the Databases node and select Add New Database. Rename the new database to TradeDev. Right-click the Trade database in SQL Server Object Explorer, and select Schema Compare.
Which SQL statements can work on a cloned table? ›Use SHOW CREATE TABLE command to get a CREATE TABLE statement that specifies the source table's structure, indexes and all. Modify the statement to change the table name to that of the clone table and execute the statement. This way you will have an exact clone table.
When cloning a database what is cloned with the database? ›Cloning a table replicates the structure, data, and certain other properties (e.g. STAGE FILE FORMAT ) of the source table. However: A cloned table does not include the load history of the source table. One consequence of this is that data files that were loaded into a source table can be loaded again into its clones.
Can temporary tables be cloned in Snowflake? ›Also, note that only permanent and transient tables support time travel with cloning (discussed below). Temporary tables can be cloned within a session, but time travel is not supported.
How do I create a database from a .BAK file in SQL Server? ›...
- The name of the restoring database appears in the To database list box. To create a new database, enter its name in the list box.
- Select 'From device'.
- Click the button to display the 'Specify Backup' Dialog.
- Click 'Add' to browse the . bak file from the directory and click OK.
How do I create a SQL Server SSMS database? ›
Use SQL Server Management Studio
Right-click Databases, and then select New Database. In New Database, enter a database name. To create the database by accepting all default values, select OK; otherwise, continue with the following optional steps. To change the owner name, select (...) to select another owner.
Restore a database to a new location; optionally rename the database using SSMS. Connect to the appropriate instance of the SQL Server Database Engine, and then in Object Explorer, select the server name to expand the server tree. Right-click Databases, and then select Restore Database.
How do I create a SQL Server script without data? ›...
Now, this is the part where you select the 3 script types:
- Schema only – Generate scripts without data i.e., schema only.
- Schema and data – Create scripts with data and schema.
- Data only – Create scripts with data only.
- CREATE TABLE new_table SELECT * FROM original_table;
- CREATE TABLE adminUsers SELECT * FROM users;
- CREATE TABLE new_table LIKE original_table;
DBCC CLONEDATABASE creates a schema-only copy of a database that includes all the elements necessary to troubleshoot query performance issues without copying the data.
How do I transfer data from one database to another? ›- Create a source database Connection.
- Create a destination database Connection.
- Start creating a Flow by selecting Database to database in the Gallery.
- Add a new source to destination transformation.
- Define the transformation parameters when the source is a database.
Open SQL Server Management on the destination computer, right-click the SQL Server instance and select Restore Database... Step 5. Here select Device, and you'll choose the created backup files on the source location and restore it to the destination location on the new computer.
How do I import data from one database to another? ›INSERT INTO SQL statement is used to insert data from one database table to another. The INSERT INTO can be used to transfer data from one database to other database or between two tables in the same database.
How many files are created while creating a SQL Server database? ›At a minimum, every SQL Server database has two operating system files: a data file and a log file. Data files contain data and objects such as tables, indexes, stored procedures, and views.
How do I create a database from a backup file? ›- When Restore Database wizard is displayed, in General tab switch to Device on Source section to point to database backup file of AdventureWorks sample database. ...
- Select backup devices dialog screen will be displayed. ...
- Press Add button. ...
- Click OK. ...
- Press OK button.
How do I create a backup database? ›
In Database Explorer, right-click the database and select Backup and Restore > Backup Database. In the Database Backup Wizard, select the database, specify a path to the backup file, and enter the name of the output file.
What is DB clone? ›A database clone is a complete and separate copy of a database system that includes the business data, the DBMS software and any other application tiers that make up the environment.
How do you backup and restore SQL database from one server to another? ›- Launch SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and connect to your SQL Server instance.
- Expand the Databases node in Object Explorer.
- Right-click the database, hover over Tasks, and select Back up....
- Under Destination, confirm that the path for your backup is correct.
- Go to the Azure portal to find your database in SQL Database. ...
- Select the database you want to use as the hub database for Data Sync. ...
- On the SQL database menu for the selected database, select Sync to other databases.
- On the Sync to other databases page, select New Sync Group.
...
- The name of the restoring database appears in the To database list box. To create a new database, enter its name in the list box.
- Select 'From device'.
- Click the button to display the 'Specify Backup' Dialog.
- Click 'Add' to browse the . bak file from the directory and click OK.