database snapshot

Question

database snapshot

p.brat.23

SSC Journeyman

Points: 81
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November 6, 2010 at 2:36 am

#228668

I have created a database snapshot for one database (25 GB).
Is it possible to alter database snapshot's datafile to 15 GB.

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Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 1

Database snapshots are read only. Completely

That said, it's highly unlikely that the snapshot is taking the full 25GB. Snapshots use sparse file technology where the file is only as big as the data in it, not the size of the source database.

Check the properties of the file and check the 'size on disk'. That's how much space it's actually taking up.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

p.brat.23 SSC Journeyman Points: 81 More actions · Answer 2

Thanks for the update.

In our case, data file is 96% used and we are getting alerts as it crossed the threshold.

So I tried to increase the datafile size but with out success.

So in and all, we can't increase/decrease the datafile size of a snapshot database..right!

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 3

p.brat.23 (11/6/2010)
Thanks for the update.
In our case, data file is 96% used and we are getting alerts as it crossed the threshold.

The source database or the snapshot?

So in and all, we can't increase/decrease the datafile size of a snapshot database..right!

The snapshot will never be bigger than the database was at the time the snapshot was created. The file is Sparce (and no alerts can look at that), the size will appear as the same as the source database, the size on disk will be lower usually.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

Jeffrey Williams SSC Guru Points: 90249 More actions · Answer 4

p.brat.23 (11/6/2010)
Thanks for the update.
In our case, data file is 96% used and we are getting alerts as it crossed the threshold.
So I tried to increase the datafile size but with out success.
So in and all, we can't increase/decrease the datafile size of a snapshot database..right!

When was the snapshot created? Normally, you would create a database snapshot for a short period of time and then drop it.

What is the purpose of this snapshot - and why do you still need it?

Jeffrey Williams
“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”

― Charles R. Swindoll

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