Transaction Log file is HUGE

It's probably in "FULL" recovery mode and has never been backed up.

You can indeed shrink it.

Set the db to simple and shrink the log file.

For example:

USE <db_name>

--find and copy/save the logical name of log file using command below;
--the first column is the logical file name
EXEC sp_helpfile

ALTER DATABASE <db_name>
    SET RECOVERY SIMPLE

DBCC SHRINKFILE ( 2 )

ALTER DATABASE <db_name>
    MODIFY FILE ( NAME = <logical_file_name_for_log_file>, SIZE = 100MB, FILEGROWTH = 20MB )

...and make sure to take backups in the future....
If you do not have a backup solution, use mainenance plans to backup the databases to avoid th eissue in the future.

I do have a maintenance plan that backs the database up to another folder.  What is the purpose of the log file?

SQL requires a log file to insure database consistency.

You can also use the log file to recover your database to a point in time if you want to.  In order to do that, you must put the db in FULL (or BULK-LOGGED) recovery mode and you must backup the log files.

If you don't need or want the forward recovery capability, you can leave the db in SIMPLE recovery mode.  But, if the db is lost or damaged, you can only recover to the point of a full or differential backup.


An example is probably clearer.

(1) Db "Db1" is in "FULL" mode; full backup is at 8PM, log backups every half hour.
If the db is lost/destroyed at 3:45AM, you could restore the backup from 8PM, and apply the logs from 9PM through 3:30AM to recover the db as it looked at 3:30AM.  All data added/changed past 3:30AM is lost.

(2) Db "Db1" is in "SIMPLE" mode; full backup is at 8PM, no log backups.
If the db is lost/destroyed at 3:45AM, you could restore the backup from 8PM.  All data added/changed past 8PM is lost.

So basically you think my db is in FULL mode.  How can I tell?

SELECT
    name, recovery_model_desc, log_reuse_wait_desc,
    is_cdc_enabled, snapshot_isolation_state_desc, is_read_committed_snapshot_on
FROM sys.databases
WHERE name = '<your_db_name>'

name	recovery_model_desc	log_reuse_wait_desc	is_cdc_enabled	snapshot_isolation_state_desc	is_read_committed_snapshot_on
CAPRegistration	FULL	LOG_BACKUP	0	OFF	0

Select allOpen in new window

Is that a default setting or did I set that up?