SQL Server: Understanding, Configuring, and Troubleshooting Log Shipping
Log shipping failures cost organisations downtime and data risk—yet most DBAs configure it without understanding the mechanics underneath. This course cuts through the noise, teaching you how SQL Server log shipping actually works, how to set it up properly, and how to diagnose problems when they occur. You’ll move from reactive firefighting to confident, proactive management.
AIU.ac Verdict: Essential for SQL Server DBAs and infrastructure engineers who own availability and disaster recovery. Ideal if you’re managing production databases or preparing for high-availability scenarios. Note: assumes working knowledge of SQL Server fundamentals; not a SQL basics refresher.
What This Course Covers
You’ll explore log shipping architecture from first principles—how transaction logs are backed up, copied, and restored across servers. Glenn Berry covers configuration workflows, monitoring strategies, and the common failure points that catch teams off-guard: network timeouts, permission issues, orphaned jobs, and log file accumulation. Hands-on labs let you set up a functional log shipping pair and simulate real recovery scenarios.
The course then pivots to troubleshooting methodology: reading SQL Agent logs, interpreting backup/restore errors, validating data consistency between primary and secondary, and executing controlled failovers. You’ll learn when log shipping is the right choice versus Always On Availability Groups, and how to monitor health without constant manual checks.
Who Is This Course For?
Ideal for:
- SQL Server DBAs: Own production databases and need reliable disaster recovery without Always On complexity or licensing costs.
- Infrastructure/DevOps engineers: Manage SQL Server deployments and need to implement HA/DR strategies across on-premises or hybrid environments.
- Database architects: Designing multi-server topologies and need to evaluate log shipping against other replication and failover options.
May not suit:
- SQL Server beginners: Requires comfort with backups, restore operations, and SQL Agent jobs; not an entry-level course.
- Always On-only shops: If your organisation has standardised on Always On Availability Groups, log shipping knowledge is less immediately applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does SQL Server: Understanding, Configuring, and Troubleshooting Log Shipping take?
The course is 1 hour 33 minutes of video content. Most learners complete it in one sitting or across two focused sessions, though hands-on lab time may extend that depending on your environment setup.
Do I need Always On experience to take this course?
No. Log shipping and Always On are separate HA/DR approaches. This course stands alone and actually helps you understand when to choose log shipping over Always On based on your infrastructure and licensing constraints.
Will this course cover monitoring and alerting after log shipping is live?
Yes. Glenn Berry covers monitoring strategies, including how to detect when log shipping jobs fail silently, how to validate data consistency between servers, and how to set up alerts so you’re not discovering problems during an outage.
Is this course applicable to SQL Server 2019 and 2022?
Log shipping fundamentals are stable across modern SQL Server versions. The course applies to SQL Server 2016 and later; any version-specific changes are minor and covered in the Pluralsight platform notes.
Course by Glenn Berry on Pluralsight. Duration: 1h 33m. Last verified by AIU.ac: March 2026.
