August 27, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item DB File Extension
Tariq
master your setup, master yourself.
http://mssqlsolutions.blogspot.com
August 28, 2008 at 12:53 am
why oh why did I think this was a trick question?:)
Of course .ldf is a sql server file extension... but is .ldf really a "sql server database" file extension. My reasoning? For a fully functioning sql server database you need all the .mdf and .ndf files that were set up when the database was created... the .ldf is merely a list of recent transactions. Lose either the .mdf and .ndf files and you will have nothing that will work... delete the .ldf and you simply lose a few transactions.
One valuable point missed I think!
August 28, 2008 at 1:31 am
I'm inclined to agree with Ben. It does depend on how you define the terms, but I generally do not think of ldf as a database file.
It stores log information, and while that can be valuable it does not store relational database information per se. You can destroy and recreate the ldf file with very minimal consequences, but if an mdf or ndf file is damaged you will be looking for the backups.
---
Timothy A Wiseman
SQL Blog: http://timothyawiseman.wordpress.com/
August 28, 2008 at 2:43 am
Actually they are all listed in BOL together as files, so i would agree with the Question. Helps I got it right as well 😉
ms-help://MS.SQLCC.v9/MS.SQLSVR.v9.en/udb9/html/39e00ebe-c9b7-4d53-90bd-15de2015fd34.htm
Not sure if that works for everyone, as I find it weird that my local BOL gives a web type address for the pages... So no idea if that's universal for all installs.
Actually I was in two minds about .ndf - I knew it was a suggested extension for secondary data files but wasn't sure if it was the default. Picked it anyway, so for once I got a fifty fifty right! I get a very high number of fifty fifty's wrong - which statistically speaking shouldn't the be the case 🙂
August 28, 2008 at 3:27 am
aaaargh! .ldf is not a databasefile extension, but a logfile extension. :crazy:
So i disagree with the suggested "correct" answer
Wilfred
The best things in life are the simple things
August 28, 2008 at 3:34 am
another confusing QOD
August 28, 2008 at 3:46 am
He, He, Didn't think about *.ldf as a "database" extension.
Sometimes the QOD wording could be better... 😛
Lars Broberg
Elbe-Data AB
August 28, 2008 at 4:13 am
Please don't confuse "database files" with "data files".
A database is more than just a data file.
August 28, 2008 at 4:28 am
Michael Kipp (8/28/2008)
Please don't confuse "database files" with "data files".A database is more than just a data file.
According to the link provided with the QOD, .mdf, .ndf and .ldf all come under "database files", and it states .mdf and .ndf as "data files".
August 28, 2008 at 6:27 am
Gee... I figured I would get this one wrong. It was so obvious that the question was not specifically including log files when the statement asked for database files, that the question was not, what are the extensions, but was the person writing the question going to be grouping log files with database files? Now I can see that the person is actually Microsoft and they call them database files. I call them log files. Same thing. So the question is now - is Microsoft right or me?
OK, Microsoft, I concede - you're bigger than I am.
Jamie
August 28, 2008 at 6:55 am
I didn't select .ndf because it is a suggested name, not a default. A default implies that if the user makes no other selection, the system will automatically set a value. So, if I add a new data file to a database and don't specify an extension, SQL would automatically append .ndf to the file name. This is not the case. If you add a file (in SQL Server 2000) to a database and do not include an extension, SQL Server doesn't append any extension.
August 28, 2008 at 7:11 am
I disagree with the answers, .ldf is for logfile not for datafile. the question specifically asks for the database files.
SQL Server 2005 does not enforce database filename extensions, but which of the following are the default file extensions for database files? (choose all that apply):w00t:
August 28, 2008 at 7:17 am
This QOD had trick question written all over it, or so it seemed to me. I almost chose .mdf and .ndf based on the word "database" in the question but then checked BOL, saw all 3 grouped together and decided to include .ldf anyway. I got it right but certainly did not like the way it was worded.
August 28, 2008 at 7:23 am
I suppose that technically .ldf should be included but I'm inclined to agree with most here who got stuck on wording.
August 28, 2008 at 7:43 am
Like someone already said, do not confuse database files with data files.
If you do not agree that the log file is a database file then go ahead and remove the log file from your databases. We can revisit the issue after that.
For best practices on asking questions, please read the following article: Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help[/url]
Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 31 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply