Content transfer between production and development server

[EarthDog]

I am trying to find the best and safest way to mirror my production environment.

i have read various papers but i still fell like there is something missing

So

Case 1:

1)Backup Content DB from production server and restore it with another name.
2)Point development configuration to this content db.
3)Disable schedules and change datasources in development administration to point to the development DW database.

Case 2:

1) Create a blank content db for dev server
2) Export all content from production machine
3) Import them in dev machine


I am interested if by these options i have an exact mirror (apart from datasources and schedules)

which one you prefer?

[bdbits]

I do not know if "Case 1" is an acceptable (supported) way to do things. We always export/import to move content between servers, which is close enough to a "mirror" for us.

[EarthDog]

I do not know if "Case 1" is an acceptable (supported) way to do things. We always export/import to move content between servers, which is close enough to a "mirror" for us.

I did the second case yesterday and it all seem to be nice and clean.This is how you do it?

I mean is the content db empty when you import the content, or you overwrite it?

[bdbits]

Disclaimer: I am not the admin here, but I know he does an export/import. I think he gets Cognos up and running, which I would have to assume would require an empty content store, then imports the output from the export made at the source. Are you asking if he uses the overwrite option on the import? That I am not sure about. I can ask him if you like, but he is gone for the day as I write this.

[EarthDog]

Disclaimer: I am not the admin here, but I know he does an export/import. I think he gets Cognos up and running, which I would have to assume would require an empty content store, then imports the output from the export made at the source. Are you asking if he uses the overwrite option on the import? That I am not sure about. I can ask him if you like, but he is gone for the day as I write this.

Yeap i just want to know what he does with these options regarding ids and upgrade specification.