Are these two ways to clear the tempdb?

  • 1) restart the SQL Server 2008 instance (e.g., stop the SQL Server Service in Windows and restart it or just reboot the server)

    2) run this command as a login/user with sufficiently high permissions:

    ALTER DATABASE tempdb

    REMOVE FILE

  • I wouldn't consider option 2 workable or even possible. I haven't tried it but I'm guessing that the command will be rejected, hopefully. Regardless, I wouldn't try it.

    As to clearing tempdb, yes, the restart will bring it back to the original size. You can also do some monitoring to see what activity is hitting tempdb and either work to tune those queries or stop them if they are rogue. Tempdb only grows when it needs to and if you have a real need for it to be as big as it is then you should let it remain that size and plan for that accordingly.

    David

    @SQLTentmaker

    “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” - Jim Elliot

  • I would not do it via option #2.

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
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  • The second one won't clear tempdb. You can only remove an empty file. If tempdb has empty files, you could do this to remove them, but you won't be able to remove the primary data file with it. Hence, it won't "clear" the database.

    Why do you want to clear tempdb? Rogue objects persisting when they probably shouldn't be? Data file growing? Something else?

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  • GSquared (2/14/2012)


    The second one won't clear tempdb. You can only remove an empty file. If tempdb has empty files, you could do this to remove them, but you won't be able to remove the primary data file with it. Hence, it won't "clear" the database.

    Why do you want to clear tempdb? Rogue objects persisting when they probably shouldn't be? Data file growing? Something else?

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  • Based on the other questions that the OP posted, I'm beginning to guess yes....

    David

    @SQLTentmaker

    “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” - Jim Elliot

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