Modes of Operation
When importing data, BCP has two modes of operation: fast mode and slow mode. As you probably guessed, the fast mode runs faster than the slow mode. The performance difference is caused by the logging of transactions. Fast mode bypasses the transaction log; slow mode posts all data inserts to the transaction log.
NOTE
You need to be concerned with fast and slow mode BCP only when you import data. BCP does not use a fast or slow mode when you export data.
When you run BCP, SQL Server automatically decides which BCP mode to run. There is no BCP switch that enables you to toggle between fast and slow modes.
Achieving Fast Mode BCP
In SQL Server 2000, several factors determine whether BCP can run in fast mode: SELECT INTO/BULKCOPY ...
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