Clarification on Tail log bkp

  • Hi,

    Small clarification...

    In the Tail_log backup we are specifying additional WITH NO_TRUNCATE Option.

    why do we need that, is there any significance for it. Why are we not truncating/removing the inactive/commited txns from the .LDF? If the database is still online why can't we take a normal LOG backup??

    Thanks,

  • From Books Online: (emphasis mine)

    Backing up the tail of the log

    Like any log backup, a tail-log backup is taken by using the BACKUP LOG statement. We recommend that you take a tail-log backup in the following situations:

    If the database is online, before starting a restore sequence, back up the tail of the log using WITH NORECOVERY whenever the next action you plan to perform on the database is a restore operation:

    BACKUP LOG database_name TO <backup_device> WITH NORECOVERY

    Note: To avoid an error, the NORECOVERY option is necessary.

    If the database is offline and does not start.

    Try to take a tail-log backup. Because no transactions can occur at this time, using WITH NORECOVERY is optional. If the database is damaged, use either WITH CONTINUE_AFTER_ERROR or WITH NO_TRUNCATE.

    BACKUP LOG database_name TO <backup_device> [WITH { CONTINUE_AFTER_ERROR | NO_TRUNCATE }

    Important: We recommend that you avoid using NO_TRUNCATE, except when the database is damaged.

    If the database is damaged, for example, if the database does not start, a tail-log backup succeeds only if the log files are undamaged, the database is in a state that supports tail-log backups, and the database does not contain any bulk-logged changes.

    So you shouldn't use no_truncate if the DB is online and available. Why are you?

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Understood the difference!

    Thanks for the justification.

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