BUG: Orphaned Connection Processes Are Not Cleared

• Microsoft SQL Server, versions 4.21, 6.0 and 6.5

SYMPTOMS

When a SQL Server RPC session does not return for whatever reasons (for example, it is blocked on the remote server, or the remote server hangs), and the SQL client process that initiated the RPC session is terminated either normally or abnormally, SQL Server does not clean up the "ghost" or "orphaned" client connection process, even if the client session is already dropped at the network or operating system level.

If this ghost client process holds locks on some SQL Server objects, it will block other processes from accessing these objects as well. Trying to kill this client process will not work either. The only way to release the blocking is to reboot the SQL Server.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SQL Server versions 4.21, 6.0, and 6.5. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.