Sign up ×

We are having an ETL process which inserts lots of data into tables. This database is set to Simple Recovery Model and the transaction log is growing a lot. I was thinking that would it help to set this database into Bulk-Logged Recovery Model? We are taking full backups on daily basis. So is there some operations which are not logged in Bulk-Logged Recovery Model compared to Simple Recovery Model?

share|improve this question
Your current recovery model has the least amount of logging. BULK-LOGGED offers more logging as it keeps track of modifed extents performed by bulk operations. –  jl01 Feb 17 '12 at 14:40

3 Answers 3

up vote 1 down vote accepted

If you log grows on ETL in simple mode it means your inserts are not minimally logged. The requirements for minimal logging are described in Operations That Can Be Minimally Logged and Prerequisites for Minimal Logging in Bulk Import:

Minimal logging requires that the target [of a INSERT BULK operation] table meets the following conditions:

  • The table is not being replicated.
  • Table locking is specified (using TABLOCK).

The Data Loading Performance Guide also mentions the TF 610 effects and how it affects minimal logging.

share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer

If at all, your log size will grow when changing from simple recovery to bulk logged. You may be having log running transactions, or uncommitted/runaway transactions that are keeping a hold of your log file, causing it to grow.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer


