Microsoft KB Archive/323161

= INF: Avoid Using Device Names as Database Names =

Article ID: 323161

Article Last Modified on 10/17/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q323161



SUMMARY
Microsoft recommends that you do not use device names as the name of a database. Device names, such as AUX, PRN, COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, may cause some operations to fail. For example, in SQL Server Enterprise Manager you can create a database that you name PRN. The data file name is PRN_DATA.mdf and the log file is PRN_LOG.ldf. A CREATE DATABASE statement that is issued from Query Analyzer as CREATE DATABASE PRN is not successful. The CREATE DATABASE statement creates the file names PRN.mdf and PRN.ldf. Because PRN is a device, the create file command tries to create a file on device PRN and the create file operation is not successful.

Even if you use Enterprise Manager to create the database, some database maintenance operations may fail for a database with a device name. Log shipping to a database that is named PRN fails if you have selected the option to keep the database in Standby mode. The Maintenance Wizard tries to use an UNDO file name of PRN.tuf, but this is also subject to the same problem.

Microsoft recommends that you avoid using device names as database names.

Keywords: kbinfo KB323161

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