database initial size changed

  • Hello,

    I have a simple, most likely not very simple answer. I have a database which log grew pretty big due to lots of transactions, that's normal behavior. My question is why would the initial size for the log changed for the database? I ran backup logs after that and the log size didn't decrease and once I checked the initial file size it was huge. I don't believe anyone changed this on purpose and I definitely know I didn't change it. It seems to me that SQL changed the initial size for the database. Could this be possible? If so, how can we prevent from resetting?

    Thank you so much.

  • Backup up the log does not cause it shrink. Backing up the log marks parts of it to be available for re-use. You must run a DBCC SHRINKFILE to reclaim the space on disk.

    If you are looking at the initial size in the SSMS database properties I believe that actually shows current size. They call it initial size for when you are creating a file.

    Right sizing the transaction log is important as you can get a fairly significant performance hit if it needs to grow during business hours and having a log file that is too large can also be a hit when doing disaster recovery.

    If you aren't doing regular log backups, which will help maintain the log at a reasonable size, and you don't need the ability to restore to a point in time, you should change the recovery model to SIMPLE.

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