BUG: Access Violation if 4 Mirror Device Files Not Available

  - Microsoft SQL Server version 4.2

SYMPTOMS

When a hard disk containing four or more mirror device files is unavailable during startup, SQL Server will experience an access violation and will not start. If the mirror device file on the master device is also unavailable, it will not count towards this total of four unavailable mirror device files.

WORKAROUND

Reduce the number of mirrored database devices that exist on separate physical devices to 2. Use Windows NT disk mirroring or use more advanced disk storage technologies, such as RAID 5.

It is possible to recover successfully, if copies of the mirror device files have been archived to tape. First, replace the physical disk and restore the lost mirror device files in the appropriate directory(s). Start SQL Server, when recovery is complete unmirror the related database devices and delete the mirror device files. Recreate the mirror(s) for the database device(s).

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SQL Server version 4.2. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.