SQL Server Transaction Log Not Truncating

Tech Note 976

SQL Server Transaction Log Not Truncating

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Topic#: 002801
Created: August 2013

Introduction
It is possible that SQL Server leaves open transactions. When this happens, the Transaction Log will grow until the disk is full.

If you are using Full Recovery mode, the backup procedure should shrink the transaction log. Note that the file itself does not get
smaller, but its space is freed up. See the following procedure for details on how to determine this.

This Tech Note describes the procedure for fixing or freeing space in the SQL Server Transaction Log.

Application Versions
Microsoft SQL Server: All supported versions

The examples in the this Tech Note use the MESDB database with a transaction log named MESDB_LOG. You will have to update these
names in the scripts with the name of your database and transaction log.

You can get the name of the transaction log by clicking on the database name, and click Properties/Files. It is the Logical Name for
the File Type=Log.

Note: See Tech Note 930 Wonderware Application Server Clean-up Guide for information about optimizing your Application Server
system.

Diagnostic Procedure
Complete the following tasks in the order presented for a comprehensive diagnostic procedure. When a task is successful, proceed to the
Cleaning Up section.

Task 1: Check for Open Transactions

DBCC OPENTRAN(MESDB)
--Or
SELECT SID       = SID
     , DBName    = DB_NAME(dbid)
     , LastSQL   = (SELECT text FROM sys.dm_exec_sql_text(sql_handle))
     , LastTime = last_Batch
     , LoginName = Loginame
     , Username = nt_userName
     , *
FROM Master..sysprocesses
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SQL Server Transaction Log Not Truncating
WHERE open_tran > 0

Note: The Production database might be running transactions at this time. The problem comes in when old transactions never get closed
or the transaction log thinks it is open. Run the query several times if you see an active transaction. You can also use Activity Monitor
to see what is going on.

If you conclude it is an old transaction, use Activity Monitor to kill the associated process.

Task 2: Check the Transaction Log

Run the following SQL command to determine the space used by the transaction log:

DBCC SQLPERF('LOGSPACE') ;

This will return the Log Space Used (%). If the percentage is high ( >80% ) and the Log Size (MB) is high ( > 1000 MB ) you
have a problem.

If it is NOT high, skip to the Cleaning Up section.

Task 3: Take Full Backup of the DB

Assuming you have Full Recovery Mode this should clean up the free space.

Check the log space again by running the DBCC SQLPERF query (above). If the % used is low, skip to the Cleaning Up section.

Task 4: Use the Truncate_Only Command

In some cases, the Truncate_Only command will fix the situation. Use the following command:

BACKUP log MESDB with truncate_only;

DBCC SHRINKFILE (MESDB_Log,1, TRUNCATEONLY) ;
DBCC SQLPERF('LOGSPACE') ;

Check the log space again and if the % used is low or the file size is small, skip to the Cleaning Up section.

Task 5: Backup and Repeat

You can also take another backup and repeat this step during production. However, it may result in loss of transaction log data so make
sure you have a good backup.

ALTER DATABASE MESDB SET RECOVERY SIMPLE;

GO
-- Shrink the truncated log file to 1 MB.
DBCC SHRINKFILE (MESDB_Log, 1);
GO
-- Reset the database recovery model.
ALTER DATABASE MESDB SET RECOVERY FULL;
GO
DBCC SQLPERF('LOGSPACE') ;

This assumes you had Full Recovery mode set.

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SQL Server Transaction Log Not Truncating
Check the log space again. If the % used is low or the file size is small, skip to the Cleaning Up section.

You should also do another backup as some of the logs where deleted.

Task 6: Check for Replication

In some cases Replication causes the problem. For this scenario, run the following query on the DB:

EXEC sp_repldone @xactid = NULL, @xact_segno = NULL, @numtrans = 0, @time = 0, @reset = 1

References

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/pt-BR/sqlreplication/thread/34ab68ad-706d-43c4-8def-38c09e3bfc3b

http://www.eggheadcafe.com/conversation.aspx?messageid=34020486&threadid=33890705

Task 7: Detach the Database and Delete the Transaction Log

If you are still having problems, complete the following steps:

Warning: DO NOT do the following procedure during production. This may cause you to lose your DB or it will be recovered in
a bad state!

1. Determine what files are used:

USE MESDB;
GO
EXEC sp_HelpFile;

2. Record the list of files. For example:

1. I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd.mdf

2. I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_log.ldf

3. I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_Data.ndf

4. I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_Data_2.ndf

5. I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_Index.ndf

6. I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_Index_2.ndf

7. I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_Large.ndf

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8. I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_Large_Index.ndf

You can use SQLServer Management Studio or run the following command.

3. Stop all applications connected to the Database. For IAS put the Engines Off Scan.

4. Put the database in Single User mode.

-- Put in single user mode

USE Master;
GO
ALTER DATABASE MESDB
SET SINGLE_USER
WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE;
GO
--You may need to go to Activity Monitor and kill the processes.

5. Detach the Database.

-- Detach the DB
EXEC sp_detach_db MESDB

6. Find the transaction log file and delete it. It should be the second file in the list above, with the extension ldf.

7. Reattach the DB but don't specify the log file name. It will be created.

See the help files for sp_attach_db. The following is an example:

EXEC sp_attach_DB
@dbname='MESDB'
, @fileName1='I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd.mdf'
--I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_log.ldf
, @fileName2='I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_Data.ndf'
, @fileName3='I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_Data_2.ndf'
, @fileName4='I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_Index.ndf'
, @fileName5='I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_Index_2.ndf'
, @fileName6='I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_Large.ndf'
, @fileName7='I:\SQL\FactelligenceProd_Large_Index.ndf'

GO

8. Reset to multi-user:

USE Master;
GO
ALTER DATABASE MESDB
SET MULTI_USER;

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SQL Server Transaction Log Not Truncating

Cleaning Up
Wonderware Technical Support does NOT recommend scheduling tasks to shrink databases or files. Doing so will result in file
fragmentation.

Instead, configure the database and log settings to reasonable sizes, with a good constant growth parameter.

For the log, an initial size of 500 MB and a growth of 250 MB is recommended.

Hopefully you will never need any more extents and everything will fit into the 500 MB.

Set up the Initial Size (MB) and Auto growth by clicking on the DB name, Properties/Files:

Initial Size (MB) 500

• File Growth: In Megabtyes • 250

Autogrowth
• Maximum File Size: • Unrestricted

Cleanup Procedure
1. Shrink the DB.

2. Check once more the space used.

3. Finally do a check on the DB. This is "safe" during production but it can slow down the system. Some prefer to run on off hours
(see the following note on CHECKDB):

The queries are:

DBCC SHRINKFILE (MESDB_Log,1);

DBCC SQLPERF('LOGSPACE') ;
DBCC CHECKDB ;

CHECKDB Notes from MS Help

In versions of SQL Server 2005 before SP2, executing DBCC CHECKDB clears the plan cache for the instance of SQL Server.
Clearing the plan cache causes recompilation of all later execution plans and can cause a sudden, temporary decrease in
query performance.

In SP2 and later, executing DBCC CHECKDB does not clear the plan cache.

Best Practices
Wonderware Support recommends that you use the PHYSICAL_ONLY option for frequent use on production systems.

Using PHYSICAL_ONLY can greatly shorten run-time for DBCC CHECKDB on large databases.

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Wonderware Support also recommends that you periodically run DBCC CHECKDB with no options. How frequently you should perform
these runs depends on individual businesses and your production environments.

D. McKenna

Tech Notes are published occasionally by Wonderware Technical Support. Publisher: Invensys Systems, Inc., 26561 Rancho Parkway South, Lake Forest, CA 92630. There is also
technical information on our software products at Wonderware Technical Support.

For technical support questions, send an e-mail to [email protected].

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