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 ldf files on my SQL server

Author  Topic 

Razzle00
Starting Member

35 Posts

Posted - 2008-10-09 : 14:01:14
Hi,

I am getting files that keep getting larger in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data folder with the extension of .ldf. Can someone explain what these files are for? And is there any way to get rid the files if they are not necessary? If they continue to get larger my server will eventually run out of disk space.

Thanks,

Razzle

mcrowley
Aged Yak Warrior

771 Posts

Posted - 2008-10-09 : 14:15:49
The .LDF files are necessary, unless you have no need of the databases. Check to make sure you are backing up the transaction logs for all of your databases.
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GilaMonster
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

4507 Posts

Posted - 2008-10-09 : 15:38:19
They're the transaction log files for the databases. They are an essential part of the database, they are used to ensure data integrity, to allow for transaction rollbacks and database recovery.

My guess is that you have databases in full recovery model and you have no transaction log backups.
Have a read through this to get some of the basic concepts - [url]http://sqlinthewild.co.za/index.php/2008/07/23/recovery-model-and-transaction-logs/[/url]

How critical are these databases? If a drive fails, how much data loss is acceptable?

--
Gail Shaw
SQL Server MVP
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