How to remove Exchange Server transaction log files manually

In Exchange server transaction log files are used to backup volatile data that is originally stored in memory. Exchange server transaction log file prove helpful in cases of system crash, as with them you can recover data for last transaction before system crash. To keep safe even in the situation of system crash, log files are normally stored on a dedicated hard disk.

However, transactions log files are beneficial from every aspect but still we need to remove them regularly. These log files have a fixed size and once a log file is filled, a new log file automatically gets generated. If these log files are not removed periodically, they can mount up on disk and can use all available disk space. Usually, Exchange Recovery server automatically removes unnecessary log file but in some conditions, you may need to remove log files manually. Usually, need of removing log file manually appears when the backup program stops running or stops removing transaction log file. In such conditions, transaction log files get piled up and use all hard disk drive space.

Removing Exchange Server Transaction Log Files Manually

To remove Exchange Server transaction log files manually, follow these steps:

1. Stop all the databases in the storage group.
2. Verify the state of each database file in the particular storage group. For information about how to verify the state of each database file, see the “Database states” section.
3. Perform one of the following actions:

• If one or more of the databases are in a Dirty Shutdown or Inconsistent state: In a situation where one or more databases are in a Dirty Shutdown or Inconsistent state, check out and determine which transaction log files can be removed without affecting database consistency.
• If all the databases are in a Clean Shutdown or Consistent state: When all databases are in clean shutdown or consistent state, you can remove all transaction log file except the current one.

Before removing selected transaction log files permanently from the hard disk, copy them to a different location. Remove selected transaction log file permanently only after ensuring successful completion of online backup of all databases in the storage group.

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