Restore content DBs to another SQL server

 

1) Find the content Database

Open SharePoint Central Admin->Application Management->Site Collection List

2) Backup the content database

You could alternatively detach it, and copy it. Just doing a backup in SQL Server 2005/2008 Management studio is easier.

3) Restore content database to new server
Copy the BAK file to new server. Create an empty DB in Management Studio, restore from backup, you may need to change an option in the “options” tab of the restore dialog to get it to work. (Overwrite db).

4) Create Web App on new Server

Central Admin->Application Management->Create or extend Web App->Create New Web App.

5) Associate restored DB with new Web App

Open SharePoint Central Admin->Application Management->SharePoint Web Application Management->Content Databases->Remove Content Database from your new web app.

Now use STSADM to add restored DB to this web app

c:\program files\common files\microsoft shared\web server extentions\12(14)\bin on new server is where you can find the STSADM.

run this command from there.
stsadm -o addcontentdb -url http://yourwebapp:port -databasename yourcontentdb -databaseserver yoursqlserver

6) Run ISSRESET from command prompt