Maintaining Log Files

To keep log files from building up and consuming disk space, set up your server to maintain the log files or perform routine backups automatically. It is important to monitor the transaction log files and message tracking log files. The transaction log files track all information store and directory transactions. The message tracking log files track message deliveries and receipts.

Avoiding Build-Up of Transaction Log Files

You can avoid build-up of transaction log files by performing a backup or enabling circular logging. Use the backup method if you need to maintain an archive of the transaction log files. Use circular logging if you only need to access recent transaction information.

Caution

Do not manually delete the transaction log (edb*.log) files. To remove these files, do a full or incremental backup or turn circular logging on.

Performing a Backup

Perform a full or incremental online backup by using Windows NT Backup for Microsoft Exchange Server. When you do a backup, an archive of the transaction log file is created and the contents of the file are deleted. For more information about performing a backup, see the Microsoft Exchange Server Administrator's Guide.

Circular Logging

Circular logging reduces disk space requirements by overwriting transaction log files instead of storing them on the disk. Circular logging is enabled by default. With circular logging enabled:

• You cannot do differential and incremental backups.

• If you lose a database (*.edb) file, you can restore only up to the time a backup was made because you won't have the necessary log files to restore it up to the time the loss occurred.

To disable circular logging

    1. In the Administrator window, choose a server.

    2. From the File menu, choose Properties, and then select the Advanced tab.

    3. In the Database circular logging box, clear Directory and Information store.

Automatically Deleting Message Tracking Log Files

You can configure your server to automatically delete message tracking log files. By default, message tracking log files are deleted after 7 days. If you disable this feature, you must periodically delete the message tracking log files manually.

To change when message tracking log files are automatically deleted

    1. In the Administrator window, choose a site, the Configuration container, the Servers container, and then the server name.

    2. Double-click System Attendant, and then select the General property page.

    3. Select the Remove log files older than __ days box, and type the number of days the log files should be kept.