SQL Server Backup File Format

[wolphie]

The IT shop I work in installed MS-SQL Server last week for the sole
purpose of converting a large MS-SQL Server database to a format that
Informix (our main database engine) can read. MSSQL Server installed
perfectly, I can view/manipulate the little "Northwind" sample
database, back it up to a file, restore it (Microsoft Tape Format) just
fine. But... The MSSQL Server "backup" file they sent me that I need
to restore is in a format that I'm unfamiliar with. It is a large
*.sqb file and when I try to restore (using Enterprise Manager - Right
click on "empty" database, choose All Tasks, Restore Database - From
Device, Point to File - I get the message: File is not a valid
Microsoft Tape Format backup set.

Looking at my little Northwind backup file in a hex editor I see the
characters "TAPE" as the first 4 characters of the file. Looking at
the file that I'm unsuccessfully trying to restore in a hex editor I
see "SSBE". It's not in the standard "Microsoft Tape Format"
apparently, but does anyone have any clue what might have created this
backup file? I hope it's not some weird proprietary program! Any
help appreciated, thanks...

Joe

[Tom Moreau]

If it has an .SQB extension, it was likely backup up with SQL Back, a
product from Red Gate - www.red-gate.com. They have a 14-day free eval you
can use to read it.

--
Tom

----------------------------------------------------
Thomas A. Moreau, BSc, PhD, MCSE, MCDBA
SQL Server MVP
Toronto, ON Canada
..
<wo*****@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:11**********************@u72g2000cwu.googlegr oups.com...
The IT shop I work in installed MS-SQL Server last week for the sole
purpose of converting a large MS-SQL Server database to a format that
Informix (our main database engine) can read. MSSQL Server installed
perfectly, I can view/manipulate the little "Northwind" sample
database, back it up to a file, restore it (Microsoft Tape Format) just
fine. But... The MSSQL Server "backup" file they sent me that I need
to restore is in a format that I'm unfamiliar with. It is a large
*.sqb file and when I try to restore (using Enterprise Manager - Right
click on "empty" database, choose All Tasks, Restore Database - From
Device, Point to File - I get the message: File is not a valid
Microsoft Tape Format backup set.

Looking at my little Northwind backup file in a hex editor I see the
characters "TAPE" as the first 4 characters of the file. Looking at
the file that I'm unsuccessfully trying to restore in a hex editor I
see "SSBE". It's not in the standard "Microsoft Tape Format"
apparently, but does anyone have any clue what might have created this
backup file? I hope it's not some weird proprietary program! Any
help appreciated, thanks...

Joe