PRB: Msg 3201 When Attempting to Dump or Load Database

  - Microsoft SQL Server version 4.2 for OS/2
  - Microsoft SQL Server versions 4.21 and 4.21a

SYMPTOMS

If you try to dump or load a database when all user connections are in use, SQL Server returns the following error message:

   Msg 3201, Level 16, State 1
   Can't open dump device 'c:\sql\data\device.dmp', device
   error or device off line.

   dbsopen: no room in socket table

CAUSE

Each SQL Server dump device requires one user connection while a database dump or load is in progress. Thus, if the need for user connections is high, the occasional failure of a dump or load must be tolerated in order to accommodate more users.

WORKAROUND

If these errors occur, determine whether or not all of the user connections are currently being used. If this is the case, temporarily closing one user connection allows the dump or load to proceed. To avoid this situation in the future, either increase the number of user connections, or schedule database dumps and loads when the need for user connections is low.