automation

dbatools: Automate SQL Server

Name: dbatools: Automate SQL Server
Author: dataplat

Faster, safer SQL Server migrations for founders. 2.8k+ GitHub stars

2,823 stars865 forksPowerShellHealth Score 9/10Updated 8/17/2026100% free · open source

What it does

dbatools is a PowerShell module that automates SQL Server migrations and administration tasks, making it faster and safer for founders to manage their databases

Install / run

Install-Module -Name dbatools

When to use it

•When migrating a SQL Server database to a new instance or environment
•When automating repetitive database administration tasks, such as backups or index maintenance
•When needing to quickly diagnose and troubleshoot SQL Server performance issues

Quick start

1Import the dbatools module with `Import-Module dbatools`
2Use `Get-DbaDatabase` to retrieve a list of databases on a SQL Server instance
3Run `Backup-DbaDatabase` to create a backup of a database
4Use `Copy-DbaLogin` to copy logins from one SQL Server instance to another
5Reference the `dbatools.json` configuration file to customize settings and options

Ready-to-paste prompt

Get-DbaDatabase -SqlInstance 'localhost' -Database 'mydatabase' | Backup-DbaDatabase -Path 'C:\backups'

Heads up: Ensure you have the necessary permissions and credentials to access and manage the SQL Server instances, as dbatools will prompt for authentication if not properly configured

Saves to your device