Adding Identity column to table with five million records

[vechalapu]

Hi,

I need to add an identity column to a table with 5 million records. When I tried to add, transaction log is filling up as well as taking for ever. Is there any other I can accomplish this task without filling up log or in less time?

Thanking You,

 

[Chopsaki]

You could copy the table then drop the old one, then create the new table schema the just repopulate with old values but I think this is essencially what SQL does on the fly when you add your identity column. foo