Role of transaction log files in Exchange server
Microsoft Exchange server is a widely used email and communication system that is used by organizations all over the world to send messages, store files and attachments, sort mail into folders, and collaborate on tasks. An IT administrator can create user mailboxes on the Exchange server, which are stored in the Exchange database file also abbreviated as EDB. An Exchange server does not directly write changes to the database file because it is a slower method of access. Instead, the changes and updates to the mailboxes are temporarily saved in the Exchange server's memory and written to log files before being committed to the database file. As a result, it's important to understand the purpose of Exchange transaction log files and how they affect database performance.
What are Exchange transaction log files?
A transaction log in Microsoft Exchange server is a file that records all transactions that are updated in the server's memory before they are finally committed to the database. It safeguards the integrity of the database file and, together with the checkpoint files, ensures the database's efficient operation.
Following a series of operations, the Exchange server replays or commits the transactions from the log file to the database. However, if the server is unable to perform an operation due to a power outage or crash, the transaction is not committed to the database making it inconsistent with the log files.