Inspect and verify a backup file (VERIFYONLY, HEADERONLY, FILELISTONLY)

Command

-- Readability and page checksum verification:
RESTORE VERIFYONLY FROM DISK = N'D:\Backup\Musteri_full_20261008.bak' WITH CHECKSUM;

-- Backup sets in the file (type, LSN, date, version, compression):
RESTORE HEADERONLY FROM DISK = N'D:\Backup\Musteri_full_20261008.bak';

-- Logical file names and sizes (needed for MOVE):
RESTORE FILELISTONLY FROM DISK = N'D:\Backup\Musteri_full_20261008.bak';

-- Media info (stripe count: FamilyCount):
RESTORE LABELONLY FROM DISK = N'D:\Backup\Musteri_full_20261008.bak';

What it does

Verifies that the backup is readable and its page checksums are valid without restoring it; shows the backup sets inside (Position, BackupType, FirstLSN/LastLSN, DatabaseVersion), the logical file names and stripe information.

When to use it

Before restoring a backup received from another team, to learn file names for MOVE, as a quick check after a backup job, or to pick the right FILE = n when a file holds several sets.

Caution

VERIFYONLY does not guarantee that the database is restorable and consistent; it only checks the backup structure and (if taken WITH CHECKSUM) page checksums. For real assurance run regular test restores + DBCC CHECKDB. A backup from a newer version cannot be restored on an older one (check DatabaseVersion). Read operations; safe.