Transaction log init vs noinit 1

[Eyespi20]

Our current transaction log backup runs every 30 minutes and is set to noinit which, from what I've read means that it appends to the file.

This file is now bigger than my database.

My question to you is, should I back up this huge file to disk, then run a transaction log backup with init to reduce the size of it?

We do a full system back up every night and it also backs up the transaction log (to another location). That log file is much smaller than this half-hourly log file.

I'm running out of room and need to do something.

Thanks!

Margaret

 

[SQLBill]

I run a full backup once a day and transaction logs throughout the day. Here is how I do it:

Full Backup with INIT
Transaction Log Backup WITH INIT
Transaction Log Backup WITH NOINIT
Transaction Log Backup WITH NOINIT
Transaction Log Backup WITH NOINIT
<etc>

At the end of the day, all the backups get copied to tape before the Full backup runs.

-SQLBill

Posting advice: FAQ481-4875

 

[SQLBill]

BTW- with your way, if you have to do a restore...first you have to find the full backup, then you need to find which transaction logs in your long file belong to that full backup.

-SQLBill

Posting advice: FAQ481-4875

 

[Eyespi20]

Thanks, Bill

Margaret

 

[Eyespi20]

The backups are copied to an external disc daily, so finding the log won't be a problem if I do the backup log with init after that task has completed.

Thanks again!

Margaret