[sims] FMS: Read Failures/General SQL Error/[Microsoft][SQL Native Client]Communication Link

[adamf]

On our 2 finance machines we are consistantly getting the following error when FMS is left open and not used for somewhere between 10-20 minutes:

 

Read Failure.

General SQL Error.

[Microsoft]

Communication Link failure.
 

It causes a particular problem if in the middle of working on something like a bank rec for example.
 

There is an article on SupportNet but it simply directs you to a Microsoft KB.  In this case it talks about disabling the TCP Chimney Offload, which I have done and it's made no difference.
 

I would raise a call with Captia but I suspect they will say goto Microsoft has the KB instructs.  Has anybody else seen this problem and if so how did you resolved it?
 

We are using FMS Summer 2011 on Windows 7.
 

Cheers
 

Adam.

[matt40k]

Can't remember if this is either a problem with the network card on the server going to sleep and it's dropping network connections.

 

Or if it's the fact you shouldn't leave it open and not doing anything. I think it's the above, is it a HP server?

[adamf]

Nope. A Dell server. In addition to SIMS/FMS the server also has our cashless catering software/db installed on it, would it really be going to sleep?

[matt40k]

Is this what they sent you?

Error message when an application connects to SQL Server on a server that is running Windows Server 2003: "General Network error," "Communication link failure," or "A transport-level error"

 

Broadcom network card?

[adamf]

Yes, thats where the link in the SupportNet KB goes. It is a broadcom nic...

[matt40k]

Big discussion on SupportNet forum about this a while ago, I found swapping the NIC to be the best - assuming you've got a nice Intel server NIC lying around.

 

Found this topic on here = http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/79859-help-needed-fms-since-capita-cant-resolve-issue-there-own-software.html#post713418 - penfold posted about turning the power settings off.

[matt40k]

Also remember seeing this: SQL Server Intermittent Connectivity Issue - Microsoft SQLCAT ISV Program Management Team - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

[adamf]

Big discussion on SupportNet forum about this a while ago, I found swapping the NIC to be the best - assuming you've got a nice Intel server NIC lying around.

 

Found this topic on here = http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/79859-help-needed-fms-since-capita-cant-resolve-issue-there-own-software.html#post713418 - penfold posted about turning the power settings off.

 

Also seen that the issue was tracked down to a group policy refresh setting. I have that enabled and have now disabled it to see if it fixes the issue.