“Efficiently Clean MSSQL Transaction Logs: Tips and Tools”（mssql清理日志）

MSSQL transaction logs record all changes made to the database. These logs display any modifications, from table and column alterations to changes in stored procedures. While it’s great to have such a detailed log of your data, it requires maintenance if you want to make sure your system is running as efficiently as possible. Here, we provide tips and tools to efficiently clean MSSQL transaction logs.

Firstly, you should regularly check and reduce the size of the transaction log. Depending on the size of the log, multiple log files may exist, which will continue to grow over time. If the size of the log is not monitored, it can cause issues with your system’s performance. To check the size of the log files, you can execute the following query:

SELECT name, size/128.0 AS [Size in MB]

FROM sys.master_files

WHERE DB_NAME(database_id) = ‘DatabaseName’

AND type_desc = ‘LOG’;

Once it is known which log files need to be managed, you can use the “DBCC SHRINKFILE” statement to reduce their size. In its simplest form, the command is as follows:

DBCC SHRINKFILE (‘logical_file_name’ , size-in-MB);

However, it is recommended that you only use this command during slow times, as it can be very resource-intensive.

It is also possible to back up the transaction log. This can be done manually, by making a full backup of the transaction log, or by setting up an automated system. Automated backup systems can be configured with the “BACKUP LOG” command, that allows control over when and how often backups are made:

BACKUP LOG [database_name] TO

WITH NOFORMAT, NOINIT, NAME = N’Backup_name’,

SKIP, NOREWIND, NOUNLOAD, STATS = 10

You can also use backup maintenance plans to manage backups more effectively. With this, you can create plans that automate the backup process, ensuring that a backup is made whenever required.

Finally, you can turn on the Simple Recovery Model, which automatically clears old logs. This mode minimizes the amount of transaction log being used, while still allowing you to perform backups. To turn on the Simple Recovery Model, you can use the following statement:

ALTER DATABASE [Database_name]

SET RECOVERY SIMPLE WITH NO_WAIT

In conclusion, properly managing MSSQL transaction logs is essential for maintaining a fast and efficient system. By following the tips and tools outlined above, you can easily keep your logs in check and make sure your system is running in optimal condition.