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Sean Howat
Asked: 2009-06-02 05:50:13 +0800 CST

If my transaction log backup fails will it still clear my log file?

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One of the databases that I've taken over monitoring is set to full recovery mode but there is no plan to have the transaction log backed up. Naturally this has caused the log file to grow to a fairly large size. I understand that when running in full recovery mode you want to do a transaction log backup to clear your log files but I'm concerned about any backup failures.

I just want to confirm if my log file will be cleared if the backup fails.

sql-server backup log-files

2 Answers

  1. Technically its the next checkpoint following a log backup that clears the log - it usually follows so quickly that it appears to be the log backup that clears the log. So if the log backup fails, the checkpoint can't clear the log.

    Thanks

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  2. Best Answer

    The question in the subject is different than the question in the body text, and the answers are opposite.

    "If my transaction log backup fails will it still clear my log file?" - No.

    "Is the log file only cleared after it has been successfully backed up?" - Yes.

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