SQL Server Performance Forum – Threads Archive

Question about Master DB log file

Hi ALL, I have tried to backup my MASTER database log file to a backup device and just keeps on getting errors. Is this at all possible or is it just me? Thanks

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You can’t. master has to be in simple recovery mode, it can’t be changed, and the log can’t (and doesn’t need to) be backed up. Tom Pullen
DBA, Oxfam GB

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Thanks for the reply Thomas. Okay, do you then need to backup the actual ldf file instead or only the mdf or both? Is it advisable to backup the MASTER database to a backup device? Thanks
Christiaan Venter

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Just backup the whole database. That will do it all (data). The log will constantly automatically be cleared out because of the simple recovery mode. There aren’t many transactions happening in master anyway (or, there shouldn’t be). Tom Pullen
DBA, Oxfam GB

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Thanks! Christiaan Venter

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