Cannot shrink Transaction Log

Hello. I've got a situation where a live database has stopped working because
the transaction logs have filled all available disk space. I would really
appreciate any advice on how to get it running again. My knowledge of SQL
Server 2000 is very limited so I would need so quite detailed instructions! I
am happy with entering statements into Query Analyzer.
I've tried to shrink the transaction log by running a backup on it in
Enterprise Manager. However, the largest .LDF file is 33Gb and there is not
enough disk space to back this up.
So somehow I need to shrink these .LDF transaction log files. Also, if
anyone could advise on how to stop this situation happening again, that'd be
fantastic. If anyone can give advice on how to do this, you really would be
saving my life!1. Consider the recovery model for the database. If not "simple" then SQL Server will not empty the
log files automatically, and the log will keep growing. When not "simple", only backup of the
transaction log will empty the log files.
2. After either setting to simple or scheduling regular transaction log backups, verify that the log
files are more or less empty. Use:
DBCC SQLPERF(LOGSPACE)
3. Now time for the shrink. Use DBCC SHRINKFILE, (not SHRINKDATABASE), as documented in Books
Online.
Also, there are some links and general info about shrink on
http://www.karaszi.com/SQLServer/info_dont_shrink.asp
--
Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP
http://www.karaszi.com/sqlserver/default.asp
http://www.solidqualitylearning.com/
http://www.sqlug.se/
"Fluffy_Ninja" <FluffyNinja@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C338EACF-9E37-47B3-B307-D9A15A87539C@.microsoft.com...
> Hello. I've got a situation where a live database has stopped working because
> the transaction logs have filled all available disk space. I would really
> appreciate any advice on how to get it running again. My knowledge of SQL
> Server 2000 is very limited so I would need so quite detailed instructions! I
> am happy with entering statements into Query Analyzer.
> I've tried to shrink the transaction log by running a backup on it in
> Enterprise Manager. However, the largest .LDF file is 33Gb and there is not
> enough disk space to back this up.
> So somehow I need to shrink these .LDF transaction log files. Also, if
> anyone could advise on how to stop this situation happening again, that'd be
> fantastic. If anyone can give advice on how to do this, you really would be
> saving my life!|||Hi,
What is your recovery model? Full, Simple ?
If you are using Full recovery model then you need to backup the transaction
log regularly.
If you don't need to set recovery model to Full then use Simple Recovery
Model you can find detailed information about it from Books Online.
Check out BACKUP LOG WITH TRUNCATE_ONLY (if it's acceptable for you..)
FROM BOL:
NO_LOG | TRUNCATE_ONLY
Removes the inactive part of the log without making a backup copy of it and
truncates the log. This option frees space. Specifying a backup device is
unnecessary because the log backup is not saved. NO_LOG and TRUNCATE_ONLY are
synonyms.
After backing up the log using either NO_LOG or TRUNCATE_ONLY, the changes
recorded in the log are not recoverable. For recovery purposes, immediately
execute BACKUP DATABASE.
"Fluffy_Ninja" wrote:
> Hello. I've got a situation where a live database has stopped working because
> the transaction logs have filled all available disk space. I would really
> appreciate any advice on how to get it running again. My knowledge of SQL
> Server 2000 is very limited so I would need so quite detailed instructions! I
> am happy with entering statements into Query Analyzer.
> I've tried to shrink the transaction log by running a backup on it in
> Enterprise Manager. However, the largest .LDF file is 33Gb and there is not
> enough disk space to back this up.
> So somehow I need to shrink these .LDF transaction log files. Also, if
> anyone could advise on how to stop this situation happening again, that'd be
> fantastic. If anyone can give advice on how to do this, you really would be
> saving my life!