basic troubleshooting techniques

[GaryL]

Total noob here.
Have a SQL 2000 backend, IIS 4 front end on separate server. Users http to app and login. About once a day, have to reboot the SQL server because users can't log in. No event log errors on SQL. Get a server error, timeout expired in the app. What would be some things I could check on the SQL side to pinpoint the problem. I suspect its an application problem or maybe the ODBC connector on the front end server gets "broke"
Thanks,
Gary

 

[TomKane]

You could check current activity on enterprise manager or do select * from sysprocesses or sp_who to see if there are any processes blocking out other ones.

You could also check that you're not having problems with your wins server or the hosts file on the users pcs.

 

[TomKane]

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/adminsql/ad_perfmon_6ofn.asp

 

[tlbroadbent]

In addition to checking for blocking, you should check for long running queries. I prefer to use the SQL Profiler to do that. SQL BOL contains info about monitoring performance with Profiler.

Monitoring with SQL Profiler

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/adminsql/ad_mon_perf_86ib.asp

Additional helps for monitoring performance can be found at...

Monitoring Server Performance and Activity

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/adminsql/ad_mon_perf_00mr.asp

If you want to get the best answer for your question read faq183-874 and faq183-3179.
Terry L. Broadbent - DBA
SQL Server Page:

http://tlbroadbent.home.attbi.com/sql/sql_articles.htm

 

[grimwyre]

Our users have been experiencing problems since yesterday. They have received various error messages including "ODBC Error, Frozen session, insert on Linked Table".

The system is busy with several hundred users, but there are no blocking locks. We can see locks being taken on tables and clearing.

No error messages appear in the error logs or event logs. From the SQL server side of things everything appears ok.

I have been asked if it is possible that the MSBLAST worm could be causing these problems.

Does anyone have any thoughts?

 

[grimwyre]

Sorry,

I have posted my query here by mistake.

Please accept my apologies.

I will try harder next time.