Transaction Log Truncation for Microsoft SQL Server

Why Truncate SQL Logs

Any Microsoft SQL server tracks all database transactions (modifications) completed by the server and records them to the transaction logs. Transaction log files (identified with the .ldf extension) are highly important, as they are used to ensure database integrity and allow restoring data by replaying the changes. However, these files grow over time and can eventually fill all the free space. This may result in the SQL server crash, or loss of valuable data. That is where Transaction Log Truncation might help.

How to Truncate SQL Logs?

On one hand, you need to keep the transaction logs, so you can recover SQL Server data in case any data deletion, undesired modification, or corruption occurs. On the other hand, you need to remove the transaction logs to save space, but without any transaction records you will be unable to successfully recover, should any unpredictable situation occur.

The best practice is to first back up the whole VMware or Hyper-V VM running Microsoft SQL Server and all log files stored therein, and then delete (aka truncate) those files on the source VM freeing up the storage space.

Transaction Log Truncation as Easy as 1-2-3

NAKIVO Backup & Replication supports transaction log truncation for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and later. The product follows the best practice of performing the log truncation process, while ensuring the ease of use and simplicity. NAKIVO Backup & Replication can automatically truncate transaction log files after successful VM backup and replication. All you need to do is just set it and forget it.

To free up the VM storage space, NAKIVO Backup & Replication performs the following operations:

  • Backs up/replicates the entire VMware or Hyper-V VM running Microsoft SQL Server
  • After completing a successful backup/replication, identifies SQL Server transaction log files, which were already committed to the database
  • Truncates (deletes) the committed transaction log files on the source VM, thus freeing the storage space

What You Get

Consequently, you get a VM backup/replica with all transaction log files. Even though the backed up log files can be pretty large, NAKIVO Backup & Replication easily reduces the size of the VM backup by using backup deduplication and compression features. In its turn, the original VM is left logs-free and can be recovered at the certain recovery point using the aforementioned VM backup file/replica, should something go wrong.

A Real Time Saver

NAKIVO Backup & Replication is a top-notch solution that takes the burden of managing transaction logs from you. NAKIVO Backup & Replication can truncate log files automatically, freeing the space available on your VM without your involvement and saving you lots of time and effort.

Download the full-featured free trial and see how it works for you!