Microsoft distributes Microsoft SQL Server 2008 fixes as one downloadable file. Because the fixes are cumulative, each new release contains all the hotfixes and all the security fixes that were included with the previous SQL Server 2008 fix release.
Symptoms
On a computer that is running Microsoft SQL Server 2008, you experience one or more of the following issues when you create a linked server by using the SQL Native Client provider (Sqlncli.dll).
Note These issues also occur in Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 (SP3). However, the hotfix in this article does not apply to SQL Server 2005 SP3.
Issue 1
Consider the following scenario:
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In SQL Server Management Studio, you open the New Linked Server window and create a linked server by using one of the following setups:
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SQL Native Client provider with Server type as SQL Server
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SQL Native Client (not SQL Native Client 10) provider with Server type as Other data source
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Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server with Server type as Other data source
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You expand the Linked Servers catalog in SQL Server Management Studio to see the linked servers.
In this scenario, the SQL Server service shuts down unexpectedly or a mini-dump file is generated repeatedly in the SQL Server Error log folder. This issue continues until the SQL Server service is stopped. In addition, SQL Server Management Studio reports the following error:
TITLE: Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio
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Failed to retrieve data for this request. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc)
For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&LinkId=20476
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
An exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch. (Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)
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Timeout expired. The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: -2)
Note This problem does not occur if you run a linked server query when you use SQL Native Client provider with Server type as SQL Server.
Issue 2
Consider the following scenario:
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You create a linked server by using the Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers.
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The ODBC data source is created by using SQL Native Client provider with Server type as Other data source.
In this scenario, the linked server returns no results.
Resolution
The fix for this issue was first released in Cumulative Update 7 for SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1. For more information about this cumulative update package, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: -
979065Cumulative update package 7 for SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1
NoteBecause the builds are cumulative, each new fix release contains all the hotfixes and all the security fixes that were included with the previous SQL Server 2008 fix release. We recommend that you consider applying the most recent fix release that contains this hotfix. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: -
970365The SQL Server 2008 builds that were released after SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 was released
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 hotfixes are created for specific SQL Server service packs. You must apply a SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 hotfix to an installation of SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1. By default, any hotfix that is provided in a SQL Server service pack is included in the next SQL Server service pack.
More Information
You can confirm the version of the Sqlncli.dll and Sqlservr.exe files by running following query:
select * from sys.dm_os_loaded_modules where name like '%sqlncli.dll' or name like '%sqlservr.exe'
If you are using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later versions of Microsoft SQL Server 2008, the query will return the following version information:
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The Sqlncli.dll file will have a version later than 9.0:3207.0.
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The Sqlservr.exe file will have a version later than or equal to 10.0:2531.0, but earlier than 10.0:2766.0.
If you are using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 RTM or later versions of SQL Server 2008 RTM, the query will return the following version information:
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The Sqlncli.dll file will have a version later than version 9.0:3207.0.
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The Sqlservr.exe file will have a version later than or equal to 10.0:1600.0, but earlier than 10.0:1835.0.
Workaround
To work around these problems, follow these steps:
Workaround 1:
1. Delete the failing linked server.
2. Create a new linked server using the SQL Server Native Client 10.0 (SQLNCLI10) provider. To do this:
a. Right-click on Linked Servers and select New Linked Server.
b. Select Other data source and choose SQL Server Native Client 10.0 for Provider.
Workaround 2:
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Create a registry subkey named "SQLNCLI" in the following path:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\DataAccess
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Create a REG_DWORD-type registry entry named “SQLOSPartitioning” under this subkey.
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Set the value of this entry to 0x0.
Status
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
More Information
|
Rule software |
Rule title |
Rule description |
Product versions against which the rule is evaluated |
|
System Center Advisor |
SQL Server missing update KB979779 to prevent SQL native client memory corruption |
A SQL Native Client provider that corresponds to SQL Server 2005 is present in this server. This older version of SQLNCLI.dll could be potentially loaded in SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 when enumerating providers and creating linked servers. Specific builds of SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 can experience problems and hangs when creating or using a linked server created with this affected SQLNCLI.dll. Update the affected instances of SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 with the required fixes or avoid using this SQLNCLI.dll when creating linked servers. |
References
For more information about the Incremental Servicing Model for SQL Server, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
935897 An Incremental Servicing Model is available from the SQL Server team to deliver hotfixes for reported problems
For more information about the naming schema for SQL Server updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
822499New naming schema for Microsoft SQL Server software update packages
For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates
