Long running update stats exclusive lock

  • Update stats doesn't normally take any locks at all. It runs read uncommitted. It could be that something earlier in that session started a transaction and took the lock and that it's just update stats running at the moment.

    What object is the lock on and what was the last command that session ran? (Also, who's it from and where)

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Hi Gail,

    The object in question is a table called "active_logins" - which has 4 rows in it

    Last query for the spid is

    FETCH API_CURSOR0000000000000704

    the spid is being initiated by a third party application through an ODBC connection from a different server note: this pre-dates the recent performance issues seen in the schannel WSSU updates. The third part hasn't been particularly helpful.

    I was wondering whether it's worth enabling 8721 and tracing to identify if this is actually an automated stats update?

    Thanks

    Dave

  • Urgh.

    No, I don't think the trace flag would help. Both automatic and user stats updates run implicitly in read uncommitted, they don't take any locks other than schema stability.

    Gut feel, something else in that session opened a transaction and took an exclusive lock and held it.

    Do you have any info on when the last transaction started and when that lock was taken? Go to the DMV, not sp_lock.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

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