Easily Repair Clustered Index In SQL Server Database
Overview: Most of the users of MS SQL server need to deal with a wide variety of issues when they are working with the SQL Server database. A great number of these issues occur due to the corruption of database files. Since data is the backbone of the operations of a company, its corruption might lead to severe losses and inaccessibility of useful and essential information. The forthcoming section will address one specific corruption problem related to index in the database and the techniques to repair clustered index in SQL Server without any hassles.
Reasons for SQL Database Clustered Index Corruption
Clustered Index in SQL Server is an index that changes the arrangement of the style in which the records are there physically in the database table. Each table possesses a single clustered index, the leaf node of which holds the data pages.
Since there is only one order in which records are present in SQL Server DB, we advice to have several non-clustered indexes as a safety backup.
When a clustered index of a database catch corruption, users will get an error message which may be similar to the message given as follows
Recommended Solution: To avoid spending large amounts of time and effort on complex commands, use a dedicated software i.e. SQL Repair Tool to repair corrupt SQL database and clustered Index
Manual Ways to Repair Clustered Index In SQL Server
MS SQL Server has an inbuilt command called DBCC CHECKDB which proves to be useful in such cases. It assists to check and verify and also get details about the logical and physical integrity of the database. The syntax for this command is given as follows:
DBCC CHECKDB (CorruptDB) With No_InfoMsgs, All_ErrorMsgs, TableResults; GO
If you successfully execute this command, you will get information about the database such as Database ID, Object ID and Index ID. Index ID mapping can be understood as ID=2= Non Clustered, ID=1= Clustered, ID=0=Heap.
If your SQL Server database Index ID value is 0 or 1. then follow the methods given in the section below to repair clustered index in SQL server
Method 1: Restore From the Backup
Backups can assist to restore a specific version of SQL Server database which loaded normally the time it was most recently used. If in case the data model is full or bulk-logged, it would be a better option to create a tail-log backup so as to capture records that were not backed up.
Method 2: Repair Individual Pages
For repairing Individual page, you can make use of the given command
RESTORE DATABASE DB_Name PAGE=’1:80967’ FROM DISK=’C: /DB_Name.bak’ WITH NORECOVERY
1:80967 tells that the index ID value is 1 and the page number under consideration is 80967
Method 3: REPAIR_REBUILD Command
The REPAIR_REBUILD command is there for treating lower levels of corruption which is present in the SQL database. REPAIR_REBUILD provides facility to repair clustered index in SQL Server by rebuilding the database contents. Make use of the following SQL command for achieving this target
DBCC CHECKDB (‘Database_Name’, REPAIR_REBUILD)
Method 4: Collective Page Repair
You can use this method if there is a requirement to repair and completely remove all the errors from the SQL Server database. Although this method poses a threat to data security after the completion of the process.
DBCC CHECKDB (‘DB_Name’, REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS)
In case the corruption levels are extremely high, the REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS command will deallocate all the erroneous database pages from the memory and will modify all the associated links
Problems With Manual Methods
Despite the notion that the techniques discussed in the section above can be pretty useful, there’s a high probability that it would further increase the number of issues. A number of shortcomings are present in these techniques to repair clustered index in SQL server, which are here below:
- Requires a great amount of useful time for executing the commands.
- A constant threat of crucial and sensitive data getting lost permanently.
- Users with less technical adeptness may find the approaches as highly complex to repair clustered index in SQL server database.
- No assurance of 100% success after executing these commands.
Professional Way to Fix Index Corruption in SQL Server
Due to manual process limitations, it’s sure that this is a completely unreliable solution to tackle such issues. So, the best way to fix index corruption in SQL Server is by using a proficient SQL Repair tool. It can repair damaged MDF Files of SQL Server 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, etc., and also offers the facility to preview all recovered database items before saving. With this tool, one can easily repair the corrupt tables, index, views, stored procedures, etc. Also, export them to a new database or into an existing database without any kind of data loss issue.
Additionally, the software has a user-friendly simple interface. Inexperienced users who may not have relevant experience can also operate it easily. They experience seamless operation without any prior technical knowledge.
Also Read: How to Convert SQL Data to CSV File?
Final Words
SQL Server database inbuilt commands in SQL that help to remove the problem of a clustered index. Still, a number of problems are there for users while using these commands. Thus, a suitable alternative is to use a specialized software application. It can be useful to repair clustered index in SQL server without causing any further stress.