SQL logshipping

By default, SQL Server:

• uses the file paths embedded in the backup

• or falls back to instance default data/log paths

You can check following:

1. SELECT

SERVERPROPERTY('InstanceDefaultDataPath'),

SERVERPROPERTY('InstanceDefaultLogPath')

If both point to same drive then both files land there.

2. Missing MOVE clauses during restore

WITH MOVE 'logical_data_name' TO 'D:\Data\DBfile.mdf',

MOVE 'logical_log_name' TO 'L:\Logs\DBfile_LOG.ldf'

Without this, SQL uses original or default paths.

You can try following fix:

1. Take FULL backup on primary

2. On secondary, run:

RESTORE DATABASE YourDB

FROM DISK = backuplocation

WITH

MOVE 'YourDB_Data' TO 'D:\SQLData\YourDB.mdf',

MOVE 'YourDB_Log' TO 'L:\SQLLogs\YourDB.ldf',

NORECOVERY;

3. Then configure log shipping without initialization

Tip(Based on experience): Always initialize secondary database manually