Setting up a standby server generally involves creating a database backup and periodic transaction log backups at the primary server, and then applying those backups, in sequence, to the standby server. The standby server is left in a read-only state between restores. When the standby server needs to be made available for use, any outstanding transaction log backups, including the backup of the active transaction log, from the primary server, are applied to the standby server and the database is recovered.

How a log shipping job works :

A log shipping job dose following works:

1 . Create a database full backup from primary server when the job first runs.

2 . Backup Agent in secondary server then restore this full  backup  to the database and leave database  in read-only state.

3 . Create transaction log backup from primary server  .

4 . Backup Agent in secondary server then restore this transaction log backup  to the database and leave database  in read-only state

5 . Repeat Step 3 , 4  periodically.

6 . If standby server is needed to be brought online ,  you just select a proper completion state option and run the log job once again.