Question : SQL Server 2008 - varbinary(max) with Filestream - How / can you transfer files between databases?

We are researching an upgrade to SQL 2008 from SQL 2000. We have two databases for Production and Testing. Sometimes we will backup the Production database and then restore it to the Testing database so we can apply, test and verify application changes that may be data dependent.

If we store our blob data using varbinary(max), could we still do this and have the filestream functionality work?

I assume we'd need to set up two different FILESTREAM Data Containers (for Prod and Test) but could we just copy the contents of one to the other so the Testing database would now point to the files in its FILESTREAM Data Containers and not to the files in the Production FILESTREAM Data Containers?

Thanks.

Answer : SQL Server 2008 - varbinary(max) with Filestream - How / can you transfer files between databases?

When you take the backup, it will also include the filestream but if you don't want to use production filestream then you can try partial backup means exclude the filestream filegroup from the backup and then restore.

And also check the following thread...
http://www.mssqltips.com/tip.asp?tip=1854