Detaching and Reattaching a Content Database in SharePoint 2010/2013

Detach a Content Database

The easiest way to detach a content database is through the UI in Central Administration.

Central Administration -> Application Management -> Content Databases

Click on the link for the Content Database you want to detach. Make a note of the name of the database. Check the 'Remove content database' checkbox. Click OK. This removes but does not delete the database.

Using PowerShell to detach a content database:

Dismount-SPContentDatabase "contentdbname"

Attach a Content Database

To attach an existing content database:

Mount-SPContentDatabase "contentdbname" -DatabaseServer "SQLserver" -WebApplication  http://SiteName

Where:

·        "contentdbname" is the name of the content database

·        "SQLserver" is the name of the database server.

·        http://SiteName is the name of the web application to which the content database is being attached.