How to Solve SQL Server Database in Recovery Mode?

If you are looking solution to resolve SQL Database "in Recovery" mode issue then this article is your answer to your issue. When a SQL Server database is in "recovery mode," it means that SQL Server is in the process of performing crash recovery or transaction recovery to ensure that the database is in a consistent and usable state.?This article examines the prevalent factors contributing to the occurrence of the 'SQL Server database stuck in recovery mode' problem. It also guides diagnosing and resolving the issue. In instances where traditional recovery methods prove ineffective, employing an SQL Recovery Tool is recommended as a means to swiftly restore database access, thus mitigating prolonged downtime.

What does SQL database in recovery mean?

When a SQL Server database is in the "recovery" state, it means that SQL Server is in the process of performing crash recovery or transaction recovery to ensure that the database is in a consistent state and can be accessed by users. The recovery process is crucial for maintaining data integrity and ensuring that all committed transactions are properly applied to the database.

Here's what happens during the recovery process:

1. Crash Recovery: If SQL Server experiences an unexpected shutdown, such as a power failure or system crash, it needs to perform crash recovery when it starts up again. During crash recovery, SQL Server scans the transaction log to identify transactions that were in progress but not yet completed at the time of the crash. It then rolls back any uncommitted transactions and rolls forward any committed transactions to ensure that the database is in a consistent state.
2. Transaction Recovery: Transaction recovery occurs during the normal operation of SQL Server to ensure that all committed transactions are durably written to disk and that the database remains consistent in the event of a failure. SQL Server periodically writes transaction log records to disk, known as a checkpoint, to minimize the amount of work needed during recovery.
3. Redo and Undo Operations: During recovery, SQL Server performs two main types of operations: redo and undo. Redo operations apply changes from committed transactions that were not yet durably written to disk at the time of the crash. Undo operations roll back changes from transactions that were in progress but not yet committed at the time of the crash.
4. Recovery Completion: Once SQL Server completes the recovery process, the database transitions from the "recovery" state to the "online" state, and users can begin accessing the database again. However, if there are issues during the recovery process or if it encounters corruption, the database may remain stuck in the recovery state until the issues are resolved.

Why SQL Server Database Stuck in Recovery Mode?

SQL Server databases can get stuck in recovery mode due to various reasons, primarily associated with the database recovery process. Here are some common reasons why a SQL Server database might be stuck in recovery mode:

1. Incomplete Transaction Rollback: If there were active transactions at the time of a crash or unexpected shutdown, SQL Server needs to roll back these transactions during the recovery process. If the rollback process encounters issues or is incomplete, it can cause the database to remain in recovery mode.
2. Large Transaction Log: If the transaction log file (LDF) is excessively large or if there's insufficient disk space to accommodate the transaction log growth during recovery, it can prolong the recovery process or lead to the database being stuck in recovery mode.
3. Corrupted Database Files: Corruption in the database files (MDF or NDF) or transaction log files can prevent SQL Server from successfully completing the recovery process, causing the database to remain in recovery mode.
4. Hardware Failure: Hardware failures, such as disk failures or I/O subsystem issues, can lead to data corruption or loss, resulting in SQL Server databases getting stuck in recovery mode during startup.
5. Insufficient Resources: If the SQL Server instance is running with insufficient memory, CPU, or disk I/O resources, it can slow down the recovery process or cause it to get stuck, especially for large databases or during peak usage periods.
6. Blocked Transactions: If there are long-running or blocked transactions in the database, it can hinder the recovery process and prevent SQL Server from bringing the database online.
7. Database Mirroring or Availability Groups: In environments with database mirroring or Always On Availability Groups configured, issues with synchronization or failover can sometimes lead to databases being stuck in recovery mode.
8. SQL Server Service Startup Issues: Problems during SQL Server service startup, such as failure to access database files, missing or inaccessible resources, or conflicts with other services, can prevent the database from completing the recovery process.
9. Software Bugs or Issues: Rarely, software bugs or issues within SQL Server itself can cause databases to get stuck in recovery mode, especially after applying service packs, cumulative updates, or hotfixes.
10. Human Error: Accidental deletion or modification of critical database files, configuration settings, or system resources by administrators or users can also result in databases being stuck in recovery mode.

Best Solutions to Resolve SQL Server Database in Recovery Mode

When a SQL Server database is in recovery mode, it typically means that SQL Server is in the process of performing crash recovery or is attempting to bring the database online after an unexpected shutdown or crash. In most cases, SQL Server will automatically handle the recovery process. However, if the database remains stuck in recovery mode or if you encounter errors during the recovery process, you may need to intervene to fix the issue. Here's how you can troubleshoot and fix a SQL Server database that is stuck in recovery mode:

1. Check Error Logs: Start by checking the SQL Server error logs for any error messages related to the recovery process. This can provide valuable information about the cause of the issue.
2. Allow Sufficient Time: Depending on the size of the database and the extent of the recovery needed, SQL Server may take some time to complete the recovery process. It's important to be patient and allow SQL Server to finish the recovery.
3. Monitor Progress:You can monitor the progress of the recovery process by running the following query in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) against the master database:SELECT session_id, command, blocking_session_id, wait_type, wait_time, wait_resource FROM sys.dm_exec_requests WHERE command = 'DB STARTUP';This query will show you the sessions that are currently involved in database startup operations, including recovery.
4. Check Database State:?After some time has passed, check the state of the database by running the following query against the master database:SELECT name, state_desc FROM sys.databases WHERE name = 'YourDatabaseName';Replace 'YourDatabaseName' with the name of your database. If the state_desc column shows 'RECOVERY_PENDING' or 'RECOVERY_IN_PROGRESS', it means that the database is still in recovery mode. After some time has passed, check the state of the database by running the following query against the master database:
5. Restart SQL Server Service: If the database remains stuck in recovery mode for an extended period, you can try restarting the SQL Server service. This can sometimes help resolve issues with the recovery process.
6. Perform Repair: If the recovery process fails or if the database remains inaccessible, you may need to perform a repair operation using the DBCC CHECKDB command with appropriate repair options. However, be cautious when using this command, as it can result in data loss.
7. Restore from Backup: If all other methods fail or if you encounter irreparable corruption, you may need to restore the database from a backup. This is why it is important to have regular backups for database recovery. If you want to recover SQL database from a backup file then use SQL Backup Recovery software.
8. Contact Support: If you're unable to resolve the issue on your own, consider contacting Microsoft Support or your database administrator for further assistance and guidance.

Always exercise caution when performing any actions on a production database, especially when dealing with recovery issues, to avoid potential data loss or corruption.