## 📝 Author
Birat Aryal — birataryal.github.io
Created Date: 2025-06-18
Updated Date: Tuesday 17th June 2025 21:42:14
Website - birataryal.com.np
Repository - Birat Aryal
LinkedIn - Birat Aryal
DevSecOps Engineer | System Engineer | Cyber Security Analyst | Network Engineer
🧭 SQL Server Recovery Models – Overview and Use Cases
In SQL Server, Recovery Models determine how transaction logs are maintained and how data recovery works. Choosing the right recovery model is essential for balancing data safety, performance, and storage.
📑 Types of Recovery Models
1. 🔁 FULL Recovery Model
Description:
All transactions are fully logged. Requires regular transaction log backups.
Use Cases: - Production environments where no data loss is acceptable. - Systems requiring point-in-time recovery (e.g., critical financial or e-commerce databases). - Supports log shipping, database mirroring, replication, and Always On.
Pros: - Complete data recovery possible. - Suitable for high availability and disaster recovery.
Cons: - Log file grows unless regular backups are taken. - Requires more storage for log files.
2. 🧹 SIMPLE Recovery Model
Description:
Minimal logging; transaction logs are auto-truncated on checkpoint.
Use Cases: - Dev/test environments where data loss is acceptable. - Data warehouses where point-in-time recovery is not needed. - Short-term temporary databases.
Pros: - Less log maintenance. - Smaller log files.
Cons: - No point-in-time recovery. - Not compatible with log backups, replication, or Always On.
3. ⚖️ BULK-LOGGED Recovery Model
Description:
Like FULL model, but allows minimal logging for certain bulk operations.
Use Cases: - Large data loads or index rebuilds where performance is critical. - Temporary switch during ETL or staging jobs.
Pros:
- Better performance during bulk inserts, BCP, SELECT INTO, etc.
- Still allows recovery to the end of the last log backup (not point-in-time).
Cons: - Point-in-time recovery is not possible during bulk operations. - Not suitable for regular usage unless needed during specific tasks.
🔄 Switching Between Recovery Models
You can change recovery models using:
ALTER DATABASE <YourDatabaseName> SET RECOVERY SIMPLE;
ALTER DATABASE <YourDatabaseName> SET RECOVERY FULL;
ALTER DATABASE <YourDatabaseName> SET RECOVERY BULK_LOGGED;