Creating database partitions

Database partitions store the individual log records of email traffic activity. Microsoft SQL Server users can configure the Log Database to start a new partition based on partition size or a date interval.

When partitions are based on size, all incoming log records are inserted into the most recent active partition that satisfies the size rule. When the partition reaches the designated maximum size, a new partition is created for inserting new log records.

When the partitions are based on date, new partitions are created according to the established cycle. For example, if the rollover option is monthly, a new partition is created as soon as any records are received for the new month. Incoming log records are inserted into the appropriate partition based on date.

Database partitions provide flexibility and performance advantages. For example, you can generate reports from a single partition to limit the scope of data that must be analyzed to locate the requested information.

Use the Database Partition Creation section of the page Settings > Reporting > Log Database to define characteristics for new database partitions, such as location and size options. This area also lets you create a new partition right away, rather than waiting for a planned rollover.

Steps

  1. Under Initial Size (MB), set the initial file size (from 100 to 2048 MB) for both the Data and Log files for new database partitions.
  2. Enter the file path for creating both the data and log files for new database partitions.
    Note: Best practice recommends calculating the average partition size over a period of time. Then, update the initial size to that value. This approach minimizes the number of times the partition must be expanded, and frees resources to process data into the partitions.
  3. Under Growth (MB), set the increment by which to increase the size (from 8 - 512 MB) of a partition’s data and log files when additional space is required.
  4. Click OK to implement the path, size, and growth changes entered. Database partitions created after these changes use the new settings.
  5. Click Create to create a new partition immediately, regardless of the automatic rollover settings.

    To have the new partition use the changes made in this section, be sure to click OK before you click Create.

    Click the Refresh link in the content pane periodically. The Available Partitions area will show the new partition when the creation process is complete.

Next steps

If you later change the partition file path, you should be sure that the new database folder exists with write privileges.