[dba-SQLServer] HELP - Log file growing rapidly

Michael Maddison michael at ddisolutions.com.au
Mon Sep 6 19:51:12 CDT 2004


My fav sql site...

http://www.sql-server-performance.com/default.asp

Maybe you'll find something here to help.  I've never been 'lucky'
enough to work with a db that size yet!
I'm waiting for a client send send me a DVD with about 10mill rows on it
so I've been following with interest ;-)

cheers

Michael M
 

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Jim
Lawrence (AccessD)
Sent: Tuesday, 7 September 2004 8:12 AM
To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: RE: [dba-SQLServer] HELP - Log file growing rapidly

Hi John:

Here is a site with information specifically on SQL 2000 that you may
not have already seen. There is some very useful information on bulk
importing of data:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/sql/2000/all/reskit/en-
us/p
art2/c0661.mspx

(watch for wrap)

There is a great section on warehousing and using the OLAP tools.

I hate to be a pessimist but it seems even if you had an over-clock Cray
mainframe, suspended in a bath of liquid nitrogen you could not have all
the data translated by this week so you may have to seriously think of
managing your data in chunks so you will have something to demonstrate
to your client.

HTH
Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of John W.
Colby
Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 1:50 PM
To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: RE: [dba-SQLServer] HELP - Log file growing rapidly


Eric,

Thanks for that detailed method of doing this stuff.  I am working to
figure out the backup piece as we speak.  I had figured I would simply
get all the data into the db then backup as soon as I finished, but I
guess that simply isn't possible.  I have a huge disk just for the log
file, I don't much care if the log file grows huge as long as it works.

When I first started this (two weeks ago) I was doing manual DTS
operations to get each file into the db in sequence.  I actually got
about 11 of the files in (of 22 total files) but ran out of disk space -
I was using (2) 200g drives Raid 0 for a 400g workspace and a single
database file.  The db file was 300g after 11 files so I could see that
the rest of the data wasn't going to fit.  I stopped, ordered a bunch of
hardware, set up a dedicated machine, learned about multiple file
databases, and set up 4 files plus a log file on 5 different 250g disks.
It appears that WILL be enough space, probably even without backing up
the log file.  The log file 2 weeks ago (after 11 files) was only 11gb
for a 300g data file so there is more to this than meets the eye.  I now
have a 250g drive dedicated to the log file for
(4) data files which will (in the end) total by my estimations about 600
gb.


The last few days have been agony simply because I was trying to speed
things up and didn't know enough to do so.  Problem after problem has
caused me to waste the last two days.  I have decided to just go back to
my original method, and use DTS to import each file, one at a time, in
sequence.  That was working 2 weeks ago, and I PRAY it will work now.
It will take me a full day to do it that way but then I have wasted TWO
full days trying to do it a faster way.

Ain't life grand?

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Eric
Barro
Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 4:24 PM
To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: RE: [dba-SQLServer] HELP - Log file growing rapidly


John,

Here's what I had posted earlier to deal with the growing log file
issues...

Overview: You will need to restrict the growth of the transaction log
file and then set up a backup schedule for the log file followed by a
shrink log file operation.

1. Right click on the database and then go into Properties.
2. Click the Transaction Log tab
3. Make sure to restrict file growth to a manageable size where your
drive won't run out disk space 4. Click Options tab 5. Check the Auto
shrink checkbox. This will allow SQL server to automatically shrink your
database and log files to the minumum required. 6. Click OK and apply
all those changes. 7. Go into the Management section of EM. 8. Select
Backup 9. Create a backup set for your log files. Select the db, check
Transaction Log radio button. Select destination and check the schedule
box and specify when you want it to run. Depending on the amount of
activity and the maximum amount you specified for the log file to grow
you will need to specify a scheduled backup and shrink operation that
will suit your needs. On our production environment I had it set to 1 hr
intervals. 10. Set up a scheduled shrink log file operation.

---
Eric Barro
Senior Systems Analyst
Advanced Field Services
(208) 772-7060
http://www.afsweb.com

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of John W.
Colby
Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 10:44 AM
To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: [dba-SQLServer] HELP - Log file growing rapidly


I am importing this data into the server.  The log file is growing
rapidly.
It is currently at 23g, where the 4 data files are around 13g each.  Is
this natural or is it growing this rapidly because I am importing
simultaneously from the 4 different machines?

With 144g of free space on the drive that the log file is on, I am in no
danger of running out of room, certainly not before the current set of
imports finish.  However it appears that I do need to figure out how to
backup the log files so that I can re-use the room for the next set of
imports.

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com


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