Detaching and attaching databases

You are now familiar with backup and restore as well as synchronization methods for scaling out SSAS solutions. However, as you learned in the previous section, synchronization is single threaded and must transfer only one file at a time. Fortunately, you can use the Detach and Attach features along with the Robocopy command for copying files to ensure the faster delivery of files from the source to target instance.

When you detach a database, SSAS leaves the data folder in its current location and creates a detach logfile. You can copy the entire data folder to another host or another instance's data folder and reattach the database. Keep in mind, however, that unlike synchronization, the Detach and Attach methods do not copy the data for you; you must come up with your own routine (script) for copying data. Additionally, you can attach a previously detached database in the read/write mode to only one instance. For all other instances, you must attach the...