Using Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services with a content database that is configured as read-only in Microsoft SQL Server (894631)

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Consider the following scenario. You have a remote server farm and a mirror server farm. You use the Log Shipping feature in SQL Server. The active server farm must be used for authoring, and the mirror server farm must be read-only. You intend to apply log-shipping changes from the active server farm later. In this scenario, you can configure the content database in the mirror server farm for read-only access.

Users can access data in the mirror server farm at the same time that other users access and add data to the active server farm. By doing this, data is available in two different locations. Note that data in the mirror server farm becomes out of date when new data is added to the active server farm or when existing data is modified on the active server farm.

Users will receive error messages when they perform certain operations in Windows SharePoint Services that write information to the read-only database. However, this condition does not affect the read-only databases. You can still apply log-shipping changes from the active server farm to the mirror server farm.

The following table lists the issues that users can expect in Windows SharePoint Services when the content database is configured as read-only.

Component or area	Type of operation or action	Behavior or error message
The Create Page page	You try to do one or more of the following: You try to create a new document. You try to create a new picture library. You try to Create a new list. For example, you create a new announcement list, a new task list, a new survey, or a new discussion.	You receive the following error message: Cannot complete this action. Please try again. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services
	You try to do one or both of the following: You try to create a new Web page. You try to create a new Web Part page.	You receive the following error message: The page cannot be found HTTP 404 - File not found
	You try to do one or both of the following: You try to create a new site. You try to create a new workspace.	You receive the following error message: A site template has already been applied to this site. Once a template has been applied, the site must be deleted and recreated in order to apply a different template. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services. Note In this message, "recreated" is a misspelling of the word "re-created."
	You try to do one or both of the following: You try to create a new contact. You try to modify a new contact.	You receive the following error message: The SQL Server might not be started. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services
	You export an existing contact	The export operation is successful.
The Shared Documents document library	You try to add a new document to the document library.	You receive the following error message: The Internet address http://ServerName/Sites/SiteName/SharedDocuments/DocumentName is not valid. Type the correct address
	You try to upload an existing document to the document library.	You receive the following error message: Form Validation Error Please correct the information you provided by following these steps, then submit the information again: The URL 'Shared Documents/STS Detection.log' is invalid. It may refer to a nonexistent file or folder, or refer to a valid file or folder that is not in the current Web.
	You try to check out a document from the document library.	You receive the following error message: You cannot check out .aspx files, such as Web Part Pages. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services.
	You try to delete an existing document in the document library.	The document is not deleted. You do not receive an error message.
	You view the properties of an existing document.	The operation is successful.
	You try to modify the properties of an existing document.	You receive the following error message: The URL 'Shared Documents/FileName.aspx' is invalid. It may refer to a nonexistent file or folder, or refer to a valid file or folder that is not in the current Web. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services http://ServerName/_vti_bin/owssvr.dll?CS=109
	You try to view the version history of a document in the document library.	This operation is successful.
	You try to restore the version history of a document in the document library.	You receive an error message that states that you cannot restore the version history.
	You try to modify an existing announcement.	You receive the following error message: The SQL Server might not be started. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services.
	You export data to a spreadsheet program.	This operation is successful.
	You try to create a new discussion.	The SQL Server might not be started. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services.
Site information and site settings	View information about site users.	This operation is successful.
	You try to do one or both of the following on the Manage Users page: You try to add a new user to the site. You try to modify the site group membership of a user. For example, you add the user to the Reader site group.	You receive the following error message: Cannot complete this action. Please try again. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services
	You try to change the title or the description of the site on the Change Site Title and Description: "SiteName" page.	The title is not changed. You do not receive an error message.
	You try to add an alert.	The alert is not added. You do not receive an error message.
	You try to apply a theme to a site.	You receive the following error message: There is no file with URL '_themes/themes.inf' in this Web. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services.
	You try to save an existing site as a custom template.	You receive the following error message: The URL '/FileName.stp' is invalid. It may refer to a nonexistent file or folder, or refer to a valid file or folder that is not in the current Web.
	You try to create a new cross-site group.	You receive the following error message: The Cross site group could not be found. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services.
	You have permissions to a Web site, but you have not yet connected to the Web site. When you connect to the Web site for the first time, you cannot access the Web site. Your user information is not added to the read-only database.	You receive the following error message: Cannot complete this action. Please try again.
Subwebs	You try to create a subweb.	You receive the following error message: Cannot complete this action. Please try again. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services.
Back up and restore	You use the Stsadm.exe command-line tool to back up and to restore a Windows SharePoint Services Web site.	The backup operation is successful. However, you cannot restore the backup to a new Windows SharePoint Services Web site.
Windows SharePoint Services Central Administration	You do one or both of the following: You create a new virtual server. You extend a new virtual server.	Both operations are successful.
	You create a new top-level Web site by using a new content database. You then add hyperlinks, documents, and lists to the top-level Web site.	The operations are successful.
	You create a new virtual server, and then you extend the virtual server by using a content database that is read-only.	This operation is successful.
	You configure regional settings for a Web site.	This operation is successful.
Lists	You try to do one or more of the following: You try to add a new list. You try to modify an existing list. You try to delete an existing list.	You receive the following error message: The SQL Server might not be started. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services.
	You export data to a spreadsheet.	The operation is successful.
	You try to add or to remove attachments to list items.	You receive the following error message: The SQL Server might not be started. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services.