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Error messages when you create a snapshot backup of many databases at the same time in SQL Server: "ERROR Selected writer 'Microsoft Writer (Service State)' is in failed state"


Symptoms

Consider the following scenario. In Microsoft SQL Server, you create a snapshot backup of many databases at the same time. To do this, you use the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), or you use the Virtual Backup Device Interface (VDI). In this scenario, the snapshot backup operation fails. Additionally, you receive the following error message if you use the VSS to create the snapshot backup:
ERROR: Selected writer 'Microsoft Writer (Service State)' is in failed state!
- Status: 8 (VSS_WS_FAILED_AT_PREPARE_SNAPSHOT)
- Writer Failure code: 0x800423f4 (<Unknown error code>)
- Writer ID: {WriterID}
- Instance ID: {InstanceID}
You receive one of the following error messages if you use the VDI to create the snapshot backup:
Error message 1
[Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server] Insufficient resources to create UMS scheduler.
Msg 3267, SevLevel 16, State 1, SQLState 42000
Error message 2
[Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server] Could not create worker thread.
Msg 3013, SevLevel 16, State 1, SQLState 42000
Error message 3
The following message may be logged in the SQL Server error log:

2008-12-06 02:26:24.90 spid420 SubprocessMgr::EnqueueSubprocess: Limit on 'Max worker threads' reached
The number of databases that you try to back up when this problem occurs varies. The number of databases depends on the following conditions:
  • The configuration of SQL Server
  • Other activities in SQL Server

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Cause

In SQL Server, the snapshot backup of each database uses five threads in the Sqlservr.exe process. Additionally, other activities may also use threads in the Sqlservr.exe process. Depending on the configuration of SQL Server, the available threads may be used up if you create a snapshot backup of many databases at the same time.

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Workaround

To work around this problem, create a snapshot backup of fewer databases at the same time.

If you are running a 64-bit version of SQL Server, you can consider increasing the Max Worker Threads configuration option. It is not recommended to alter this setting on a 32-bit version of SQL Server.

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Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

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More Information

We recommend that you create a snapshot backup of fewer than 35 databases at the same time.

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Keywords: kb, kbprb, kbtshoot, kbexpertiseadvanced, kbsql2005error

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Article Info
Article ID : 943471
Revision : 5
Created on : 8/19/2020
Published on : 8/20/2020
Exists online : False
Views : 79