FIX: ORA-00000 Error Message with ASP, MTS, and Connection Pooling

The following error message may appear when an Active Server Page (ASP) is executing the OPEN method to an Oracle data source:

You may also receive an additional error message:

The problem arises due to a combination of situations occurring at the same time. First, Oracle uses a System Global Area (SGA) to share data between connections. Secondly, when Windows NT authentication is requested by the Active Server Pages (.asp) page, different users cannot access the same memory in the System Global Area due to the Windows NT security model. Internet Information Server (IIS) 4.0, NT LanMan security, Microsoft Oracle Driver 2.73.7283.03, connection pooling, and .asp use the following data scenario.

USER 1 requests to connect to Oracle. They have their own user ID for Windows NT security. Connection Pooling is turned on. USER 1 then disconnects from Oracle. The .asp no longer needs the connection, but because Connection Pooling is turned on, the Database Environment Handle (HDBC) remains in memory for 120 seconds. This also keeps the memory allocated in the SGA on Oracle to USER 1.

USER 2 requests to connect to Oracle. They use the same connection string to Oracle, but they have a different Windows NT User ID. The ODBC manager sees that they are using the same connection string so it reuses the previous connection from USER 1. Oracle now tries to use the same memory that was allocated to USER 1, but Windows NT security intervenes because USER 2 (different Windows NT ID) is attempting to use memory designated by USER 1. Now, the errors mentioned in the SYMPTOMS section occur.

Here are the three workarounds to this problem:

• Obtain the new Microsoft Oracle ODBC Driver version 2.5 (Build 2.573.2927).
  
  -or-
• Turn off connection pooling.
  
  Connection pooling for Oracle can be disabled by setting the
  CPTimeout value to 0 for the Microsoft ODBC for Oracle driver.
  CPTimeout is found in the registry in:
  

           HKLM\Software\ODBC\ODBCINST.INI\Microsoft ODBC for Oracle
       
  						

  -or-
• Remove authentication in Internet Information Server (IIS).

You can resolve this issue by using the new Microsoft Oracle ODBC driver version 2.5. This driver is available in Visual Studio 6.0, the Data Access Software Development Kit (SDK) 2.0, and Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.0. The Data Access Software Development Kit (SDK) 2.0 and Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) can be download from the following Web address:

Navigate to the Downloads page and proceed from there.