BUG: Unhandled AV w/ User Connections Configured > 255

• Microsoft SQL Server, version 4.21a Service Packs 2 and 4 for Alpha

SYMPTOMS

Running SQL Server 4.21a with Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 4 for Alpha platforms versions of the OPENDSNT.DLL will encounter an unhandled access violation (AV) when the number of user connections is configured for 256 or greater. Any number of users can connect to SQL Server up to the configured limit, until at least one user/connection closes. At the time that this connection closes, SQLSERVER.EXE will experience an unhandled AV which will result in the termination of the SQLSERVER.EXE process. All connections seem to behave normally until one of the connections terminates.

WORKAROUND

It is possible to avoid this error by configuring the number of concurrent SQL Server connections to some value below 256. If the number of user connections needs to be greater than 255 and there is a need to apply Service Pack 2, apply Service Pack 3. If there are fixes in Service Pack 4 that are required, you should upgrade to SQL Server 6.0.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SQL Server version 4.21a Service Pack 2 and Service Pack 4 for Alpha platforms. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.