JacekO (11/9/2009)
The only difference in those two modes is how long SQL Server holds on to this data, not in the data logged itself. In Simple recovery mode the log is self truncated after a checkpoint. In Full recovery mode a DBA must maintain the log and use BACKUP command to manage it.The only mode that logs different data to the log is the Bulk Logged.
In simple recovery, bulk operations are also minimally logged. Not clearly stated in BoL, but see the intro paragraph here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191244.aspx, also implied here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191484.aspx
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