SMS: Infinite Loop in Scheduler with Corrupt SRQ File

A corrupted send request (.srq) file may cause the SMS Scheduler to enter an infinite loop, repeatedly writing an error similar to the following to its log file: Because the Scheduler is stuck in a loop, the Sched.log file is no longer overwritten at a specific size, and will keep growing in size until it either runs out of space on the hard drive, or until the Scheduler is stopped.

If DUMPSEND is used to dump the same send request, it will also enter an infinite loop, writing an error similar to the following repeatedly to the screen until broken with a CTRL+C:

This occurs when the SMS Scheduler or DUMPSEND encounters a record in the Send Request that has its record length set to zero. In order to read the next record, the record pointer is advanced by the length of the record. If that number is zero, then the record pointer never moves, and the current record is read repeatedly.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do the following:

1. Stop the Sms_executive.
2. Remove the corrupted .srq file from the SMS\Site.srv\Schedule.box or SMS\Site.srv\Sender.box\Requests\<outbox> directory.
3. Restart the Sms_executive.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server versions 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):