Drives used for SQL databases are running out of free space

Applies to SharePoint 2016; not tested on other versions of SharePoint.  

Symptoms

 

SharePoint Central Admin’s Health Analyzer shows "Drives used for SQL databases are running out of free space". For example:

 
















 











Cause


The value of Autogrowth for the database files are not set optimally for the free disk space that the Health Analyzer calculates. For example:













Resolution

 

Set the Autogrowth to the correct value. Do not use a percentage or a non-binary unit as a fixed value. Inform the DBA. For example:


 



 

 












Note:

- The Health Analyzer Rule Definition and the Error Status pages look very similar and share the same title, "Drives used for SQL databases are running out of free".  Make sure you're looking at the right page by checking the URLs (../Lists/HeathRules/... vs. ../Lists/HealthReports/...) and the Ribbon:


-  For getting into the depth of the error and calculating the correct value, you can refer to https://helpbolufer.blogspot.com/2016/06/drives-used-for-sql-databases-are.html. However, the calculation of free SQL disk space using the stored procedure ([sys].[xp_fixeddrives]) doesn’t seem to align well with the formula that the Health Analyzer uses for SQL Server drives configured with sub-disk allocations. 

- Microsoft’s article for the error was not fulfilling - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/SharePoint/technical-reference/drives-used-for-sql-databases-are-running-out-of-free-space


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