title: Sql Server - Drop column from VLT (Very Large Table )
body: <p>Can anyone please advise what is the best to achieve the below:</p>
  
  <p>Requirement: Drop 5 columns from VLT (nearly 400 gb) in size.</p>
  
  <p>The moment we try do the same, we face space issues on PRODUCTION, timeout errors (thru SSMS)</p>
  
  <p>We tried to insert in any temp table (by keeping identity off), but then we inserted all nearly billions rows of data and we tried to switch the identity on, we are facing timeout errors.</p>
  
  <p>should we do these operations thru POWERSHELL would be better as compared to doing in SSMS</p>
  
  <p>Limitation: Limited space on production, tempdb growing fast because of these operations. </p>
  
  <p>Please advise, what could be the best approach to drop column from VLT.</p>
  
  <p>Regards</p>