Truncate log

Question

Truncate log

river1

SSC-Insane

Points: 24300
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September 29, 2009 at 7:52 am

#73901

Hi,
I have a database in SQL Server 2000.
This database is in full recovery model.
The log size is now of 10GB.
I have made a backup of the database (full backup) and i need to truncate the log, and then shrink it.
how can i truncate all the log from a database that is in full recovery model?
Thank you

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Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 1

river-653653 (9/29/2009)
Hi,
I have a database in SQL Server 2000.
This database is in full recovery model.
The log size is now of 10GB.
I have made a backup of the database (full backup) and i need to truncate the log, and then shrink it.
how can i truncate all the log from a database that is in full recovery model?
Thank you

If your database is using the full recovery model, why don't you have regularly scheduled transaction log backups? Running scheduled transaction log backups will keep your transaction log file from continually growing. IF point in time recovery is not necessary, then I'd change your recovery model to simple.

How large is your database itself? I'd use this to help determine the initial size for your transaction log.

In SQL Server 2000, the simpliest way is BACKUP LOG WITH TRUNCATE_ONLY (hopefully that is correct, check BOL).

After you do that, you can use DBCC SHRINKFILE (again, look in BOL for more info).

Once that is done, run another full backup, and if you are leaving the database in full recovery, setup regularly scheduled transaction log backups to manage the size the transaction log.

ps. One Orange Chip Points: 29422 More actions · Answer 2

If you do not need point in time recovery (that's the reason u must have put the db in full recovery mode), why dont keep it in simple recovery mode?

Pradeep Singh

river1 SSC-Insane Points: 24300 More actions · Answer 3

My database as 430 MB in the data file and 10GB in the Log file.

I want to live the database in full recovery model, because i want to be able to do recovery in time.

I will do what you told me (truncate the log file, then shrink it) and then make another full backup to this database.

What does the backup log with_notruncate do exactly?

thank you

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 734418 More actions · Answer 4

If you want point in time recovery, you need to have log backups. Set them up, maybe once an hour to start, and keep all log backups since the most recent full. that way you can recover to a point in time.

A log backup will mark those transactions in the log as free, and the space can be reused. Note how big your log backups are, and then you can shrink the log to hold that much data, plus some pad. Likely your log is much bigger than it needs to be. However, a shrink should not be done regularly. Just for one-time events, like this, and use DBCC SHRINKFILE.

You can read about the backup command in books online to understand what the truncate does. Basically it's an emergency measure when you have filled the disk. If you haven't don't run it.

Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 5

river-653653 (9/29/2009)
My database as 430 MB in the data file and 10GB in the Log file.
I want to live the database in full recovery model, because i want to be able to do recovery in time.
I will do what you told me (truncate the log file, then shrink it) and then make another full backup to this database.
What does the backup log with_notruncate do exactly?
thank you

When you lookup DBCC SHRINKFILE, you will probaby want to shrink the transaction log to a size between 50 to 100 MB, that is about 10 to 20% the size of your database.

You also need to be sure to setup regularly scheduled transaction log backups between your full and differential backups. It is the regularly scheduled transaction og backups that will keep your transaction log from growing to 10 GB again, and will provide you with point in time recovery. If you don't have transaction log backups, you don't have the ability to performa point in time restore.

Please take the time to read BACKUP LOG in BOL. It will provide you with information regarding the options.

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 6

Please read through this - Managing Transaction Logs[/url]

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

Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 7

GilaMonster (9/29/2009)
Please read through this - Managing Transaction Logs[/url]

Add I must that article to the library in my sig block.

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 8

Lynn Pettis (9/29/2009)
GilaMonster (9/29/2009)
Please read through this - Managing Transaction Logs[/url]
Add I must that article to the library in my sig block.

Much more and your sig will be larger than most of your posts. 😀 😉

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

Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 9

GilaMonster (9/29/2009)
Lynn Pettis (9/29/2009)
GilaMonster (9/29/2009)
Please read through this - Managing Transaction Logs[/url]
Add I must that article to the library in my sig block.
Much more and your sig will be larger than most of your posts. 😀 😉

Handy though the links are...

river1 SSC-Insane Points: 24300 More actions · Answer 10

I will read it.

What about using BDCC shrink file instead of using the GUI (EM) to shrink the log file?

do i have any benefits of doing it through DBCC instead of doing it with the GUI?

thank you

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 11

river-653653 (9/30/2009)
What about using BDCC shrink file instead of using the GUI (EM) to shrink the log file?

All the GUI does is run DBCC ShrinkDatabase or DBCC ShrinkFile.

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