Check the size of the SQL database for Vista trend logs and events

[Product_Support]

Issue

Check the current size of the SQL database associated with a Vista database to ensure that it hasn't become full.

Product Line

TAC Vista

Environment

SQL

Cause

The SQL database that installs automatically with Vista has limitations on the amount of data it can hold.  Most often, this is plenty of space for many years of trending without issue.  But if a site is very old or has many trend logs defined, it can out grow the SQL database.  Limits are:

• Vista IV - Vista 5.0.0 MSDE:  2 GB
• Vista 5.0.1 - 5.1.6 SQL 2005 Express:  4 GB
• Vista 5.1.7 and newer SQL 2008 Express:  10 GB

Resolution

This procedure checks the log size from the Vista Workstation:

1. In Vista Workstation, click on the Vista Server in the folder pane
2. Right click on $Backup_LDB and select Properties
3. Scroll to the bottom and make note of the Database Size property (shown in grey).  This is the size of the database in MB.

This procedure checks the file size on the hard drive.  The assumption has been made that this is not a custom install, but the default SQL installed with Vista Server:

1. Open Windows Explorer
2. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data
3. Locate files:
   • taclogdata.mdf
   • taclogdata_log.ldf
   Note:  If there are multiple instances of SQL installed on the PC, there may be MSSQL.1, MSSQL.2, MSSQL.3, etc.  Find the SQL instance that contains the file names listed above.
4. Highlight both files and look at the bottom of the window on the status bar.  The combined size of these two files is shown.  This can be used to determine is the SQL database is full and requires a purge. 

To purge a Vista IV SQL database, see How to create a new database or purge a full SQL (i.e. it has hit the limit of 2G) in Vista IV.
To purge a Vista 5 SQL database, see Vista 5 full SQL database issue.

If purging is not an option, then the SQL will need to be upgraded to a full version of SQL (not express).  To see the different options, see Vista Database Sizing and SQL Server Selection.