How to create a "copy" of SQL Server transaction log file

Question

I want a copy of SQL Server transaction log file for "raw" analysis. What is the safest way to get a copy of that file without shutting down the database and disturbing the existing log/backups/backup schedules and just about everything.

FYI, Its a SQL Server 2000 database server and I can see the log file (its about 4GB in size) and I cannot copy it as is; I get the "access denied" error when copying from explorer or command line.

Answer 1

Can you not analyse the log file backups instead of the log file itself? If you must have a copy of the log file itself, restoring a backup of the database and all transaction logs will give you a replica of the transaction log file in a different database.