FIX: Two-Phase Commit build_xact_string Documentation

• Microsoft SQL Server version 4.2 for OS/2

SYMPTOMS

When SQL Server is started, recovery runs for as long as one hour before completing. When recovery is complete, the SQL Server error log contains the following messages:

   Spawn of probe failed. Error = 2.
   Error: 3429, Severity: 21, State: 3
   Error recovering database '%.*s' - could not connect to commit
   service to check completion status of xact: %S_RID.
   Error: 3414, Severity: 21, State: 1
   Database '%.*s' (dbid %d): Recovery failed. Please contact
   Technical Support for further instructions.

CAUSE

SQL Server spawns PROBE.EXE for any server that must recover a transaction involved in a two-phase commit. PROBE.EXE attempts to connect to the commit service, but eventually fails.

PROBE.EXE uses the value for service_name, submitted to the DB-LIBRARY (db- lib) build_xact_string function, for the name of the commit service server.

The SQL Server documentation for build_xact_string does not clearly state that "service_name" should be the name of the server acting as the commit service for the two-phase commit.

WORKAROUND

To recover the database marked as suspect, rename the server acting as the commit service to whatever value was passed to build_xact_string for "service_name." This allows PROBE.EXE to connect to the commit service to complete the recovery.

Also, calls to build_xact_string should provide the server name for the server acting as the commit service. Pass this value in the "service_name" parameter.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SQL Server version 4.2 for OS/2. This problem was corrected in SQL Server version 4.2 for Windows NT. For more information, contact your primary support provider.