INF: Timeouts Server Option

  - Microsoft SQL Server version 4.2 for OS/2

SUMMARY

The timeouts parameter controls the timing out of site handlers in the case of Remote Procedure Calls (RPC). The behavior of site handlers in response to the setting or resetting of this parameter could be a potential cause for confusion. The documentation has some errors regarding the behavior of this parameter.

MORE INFORMATION

The timeouts parameter is an option that can be set or reset using the sp_serveroption system procedure. This parameter can be set or reset for every server in the sysservers table (except the local server) and it controls the behavior of site handlers. When it is set to true, the site handlers continue to run until one of the two servers is shutdown. When it is set to false, the site handlers timeout after a minute if there is no RPC activity. Thus, the parameter controls the timeouts in a way that is contradictory to what its name suggests - when timeouts is true, there is no timeout and when it is false, there is a timeout.

The "System Administrator's Guide" mentions on page 141 that the default value for timeouts is false. This is incorrect - the default value is actually true. The "Language Reference" on page 430 states the following when describing the timeouts option:

   ...timeouts, which when unset (false), disables the normal timeout
   code used by the local server, so the site-connection handler does
   not automatically drop the physical connection after a minute with
   no logical connection.

On the next page, the explanation given for example B is actually explaining example C, and vice versa.