MS SQL Admin

Databases not accessible

Just got a call that three databases on an instance where many reside were not accessible. Users were getting errors about not enough disk, memory, or the files were inaccessible. I logged into the server and found that the databases were not offline but could not be accessed. I looked into the errorlog and found the following error:

‘The transaction log for database ‘database_name’ is full. To find out why space in the log cannot be reused, see the log_reuse_wait_desc column in sys.databases’

Well I looked around and I did not find anything wrong. Disk were logs are kept had just under 100 Gigs free and the ldf files were not in a read-only state. Based on that I offlined the databases and then attempted to bring them back online. SQL found the MDF and the LDF files, went through recovery, found no issues and brought the databases back online.

Still not sure exactly what happened. It is strange also since all the databases use the simple recovery model. Based on that I am not sure how the log was full but there you go.

MS Certification Test

I have scheduled my first certification test for late October. I think that by putting the date on the calendar it will push me to finish my study more quickly. I have not been as vigilent as I would have liked to be so I am lighting the fire so to speak. Also with my new position I think that I will have some big SQL Server Projects down the road pretty quickly. That is a bigger fire for me but all the extra motivation is good for me. I have learned a lot over the last 8 months or so that I have been doing DBA work with Sybase, Oracle, and SQL Server but I still feel like I have so much to learn. Now I will be focusing more on SQL Server so I am really going to start getting my hands dirty on some fun big national projects. I am very excited to be in the mix more than I have been to this point. I am sure that I will have some good stories for you very soon.
Anyway I do not have much time now to get ready for that first test. I think that I am pretty much ready but I want to study more and play in SQL Server more before taking the test. I just do better once the pressure is on. Wish me luck and I will keep you in the loop.