In an earlier post discussing SQL Server transaction log bloat, we touched on the benefits of a Time Matters backup plan that includes transaction log backups. Transaction log backups are backups of only the transactions that occur between the current time of backup and the last previous backup. They are stored in files with a TRN extension. These backups can occur at any interval, whether it be an hour or 15 minutes.
With a combination of full nightly backups and transaction log backups every hour, your firm will have better options for preserving your precious data in the event of a disaster. These backups will allow you to restore your data at any point, in 1 hour increments. The more frequent interval you choose, the better your options become. For example, if you choose to backup transactions every 15 minutes, then you can restore at any point in 15 minute intervals.
Transaction log backup files use very little disk space, because they only store transactions that take place within the defined interval. Because of this, the cost of implementing this type of plan in terms of time and storage space is very little and the benefit is great.
The use of transaction log backups in a major disaster such as data center loss is very minimal. Because transaction backups only need to be kept until the next full backup occurs, they are usually not backed up to another location, or off premises, and are not kept for more than 48 hours in a normal disaster recovery plan. In these types of disasters full backups are usually sufficient in recovery.
Transaction log backups are great for those “oops moments”: OS corruption, drive failure (if backups are taken directly to another server or tape drive), database corruption, or file corruption. If someone accidentally deletes a TM form style, a group of records (from recycle bin) or settings transaction log, backups allow you to restore to the closest point before the occurrence with minimal data loss, if any at all. If the server OS “blue screens”, a drive fails, or corruption of database and/or files takes place, restoring can be done up to any interval that is set in the plan.
Transaction log backups are a good idea for any firm, no matter how big or small.
If your firm is interested in a backup plan that includes transaction log backups, or you need help designing a backup plan or disaster recovery plan for your firm in general, give us a call at 877-357-0555, or email us at [email protected].
Jack Schaller has been active in the field of law office technology since 1989, and has worked with a variety of commercial accounting, legal billing, practice management, and document management software products during his twenty plus years in the software consulting field. During his tenure as a software consultant he has garnered many sales and service awards for his work with legal software products. Jack is a frequent presenter at legal conferences and seminars, and is a regular contributor to TechnoLawyer and other technology publications.