Old .TXN files in logdir. Can I delete older ones?

HCL Domino Domino Forum
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Domino/Notes Version: 12.0.2FP5
Operating System: Windows
Problem/Query: We have .txn files in the logdir dating back a few years. We are not using any “domino aware” backup solutions. Should I just delete those over a few months old?

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Hi @robberendt

I believe that the purpose of deleting those old .TXN is to free up disk space on your server. Deleting those .TXN is upon your discretion but before deleting it, make sure you have created a good backup of your Domino. The transaction logging records changes made to databases in real-time. This allows the server to recover quickly after a crash without running lengthy consistency checks (Fixup).

To make it simple, do not simply delete them manually via the file system.
While those .txn files are likely taking up significant disk space, they are part of the Domino Transaction Logging system. Deleting them while the server is running or without following the proper procedure can lead to database corruption, “fixup” errors, or a server that refuses to start.

First, you need to know what does the .TXN files for. These files are the “extents” of your transaction log and are critical for database integrity and disaster recovery.

Before deleting it, it is necessary to know what type of logging style you use. It is also recommended on separating the transaction logs in a separate drive to save disk space on your Domino.

Since you aren’t using a backup tool that clears these logs, you should switch your logging style or reset the log path.

If you just want the space back and are willing to accept a brief moment of vulnerability (no logging until the restart):

  1. Shut down the Domino Server.
  2. Move the old .txn files to a temporary external drive (or delete them if you are certain you have a full OS-level backup of the .nsf files).
  3. Delete the control.nlg file (this is the “map” for the logs).
  4. Restart the server. Domino will recreate the log files it needs and start fresh.

If you aren’t using an enterprise backup solution that “rolls” the logs, you should likely be using Circular Logging instead of Archived. Kindly check the link below to know about transactional logging styles.

How transaction logging works

Hope the above information helps. Thank you.

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