Can't clean buffer cache

Hi,

My problem is that I cannot completely clean buffer cache on SQL Server 2005 version 9.00.2047.00 (probably SP1).

Right after I run DBCC DROPCLEANBUFFERS in the context of my database (this is development server, and so far I am only the one who is working with a particular database), I run a script that quetries sys.dm_os_buffer_descriptors view also from the context of my database to make sure that the buffer cache is really clean. However it shows large number of entries totalling 42 MB.

I ran both DBCC an the script in the past too, and it always showed nothing in the results, that means that buffers were really clean. The reason why I am running this is for benchmarking of existing and new application.

Does anybody have any idea, suggestions, how to troubleshoot this issue ? I already closed all connections to this database, but rebooting the server is not an option since other people are also working on it.

Thanks

BoL (link) does suggest issuing a CHECKPOINT before the DBCC DROPCLEANBUFFERS, have you tried that?|||

Hi Mark

Moffs suggestion is correct, you will need to run the CHECKPOINT command.

Checkpoint all the databases that you want to have buffers to cold and then run the dbcc command.

I don't think you can get rid of all the buffers from the sysdatabases.

Could you please post the output of the following command once you have completed the checkpoint and dbcc.

Code Snippet

select distinct db_name(database_id) from sys.dm_os_buffer_descriptors

Jag

Can't backup LOG - serious problem

Hello,
I can't backup log. I tray normal backup log to disk, backup with
no_log (clean log without backup). I know where is problem but don't
know how resolve it. My problem cause open transaction.
DBCC OPENTRAN:
Transaction information for database 'db_name'.
Replicated Transaction Information:
Oldest distributed LSN : (68123:350:1)
Oldest non-distributed LSN : (73169:188:1)
DBCC execution completed. If DBCC printed error messages, contact your
system administrator.
sys.databases (for this db):
log_reuse_wait
--
6
log_reuse_wait_desc
--
REPLICATION
I don't have setup replication, it is disabled, no publication and no
subscription. Maybe in past was.
DBCC LOGINFO return 72000 rows with status 2 .
2 253952 8192 107212 2 128 0
2 253952 262144 107213 2 128 0
2 253952 516096 107214 2 64 0
2 278528 770048 107215 2 64 0
2 253952 1048576 107216 2 128 67569000000013600332
2 253952 1302528 107217 2 128 67569000000013600332
72000 similar rows
2 253952 18823045120 144612 2 64
144608000000025500065
2 253952 18823299072 144613 2 64
144608000000025500065
2 286720 18823553024 144614 2 64
144608000000025500065
2 253952 18823839744 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
2 253952 18824093696 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
2 253952 18824347648 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
2 286720 18824601600 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
Tell me please how backup this log and shrink file
Thank you
--
Regards,
anxcompYou didn't really tell us what the problem with a TLog backup is (no error
message).
>> Tell me please how backup this log and shrink file
In an emergency, use:
Backup log dbName with truncate_only
dbcc shrinkfile('TLog fileName')
<anxcomp@.gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1191065040.370537.182100@.19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
> Hello,
> I can't backup log. I tray normal backup log to disk, backup with
> no_log (clean log without backup). I know where is problem but don't
> know how resolve it. My problem cause open transaction.
> DBCC OPENTRAN:
> Transaction information for database 'db_name'.
> Replicated Transaction Information:
> Oldest distributed LSN : (68123:350:1)
> Oldest non-distributed LSN : (73169:188:1)
> DBCC execution completed. If DBCC printed error messages, contact your
> system administrator.
>
> sys.databases (for this db):
> log_reuse_wait
> --
> 6
> log_reuse_wait_desc
> --
> REPLICATION
>
> I don't have setup replication, it is disabled, no publication and no
> subscription. Maybe in past was.
> DBCC LOGINFO return 72000 rows with status 2 .
> 2 253952 8192 107212 2 128 0
> 2 253952 262144 107213 2 128 0
> 2 253952 516096 107214 2 64 0
> 2 278528 770048 107215 2 64 0
> 2 253952 1048576 107216 2 128 67569000000013600332
> 2 253952 1302528 107217 2 128 67569000000013600332
> 72000 similar rows
> 2 253952 18823045120 144612 2 64
> 144608000000025500065
> 2 253952 18823299072 144613 2 64
> 144608000000025500065
> 2 286720 18823553024 144614 2 64
> 144608000000025500065
> 2 253952 18823839744 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
> 2 253952 18824093696 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
> 2 253952 18824347648 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
> 2 286720 18824601600 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
>
> Tell me please how backup this log and shrink file
> Thank you
> --
> Regards,
> anxcomp
>|||Chris,
The problem seems to be that SQL Server believes that the database is publisher for transactional
replication (according to output from DBCC OPENTRAN) and it counts the oldest log record that hasn't
been read by the "Log Reader" replications process as an open transaction. I.e., using TRUNCATE_ONLY
or NO_LOG won't help. The solution is to make SQL Server understand that there's no replication
going on. Possibly sp_repldone, but I'm no replication expert, so anxcomp might be best server to
ask in a replication group.
--
Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP
http://www.karaszi.com/sqlserver/default.asp
http://sqlblog.com/blogs/tibor_karaszi
"ChrisR" <ChrisR@.foo.com> wrote in message news:%231b$8%23qAIHA.4836@.TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> You didn't really tell us what the problem with a TLog backup is (no error message).
>> Tell me please how backup this log and shrink file
> In an emergency, use:
> Backup log dbName with truncate_only
> dbcc shrinkfile('TLog fileName')
>
> <anxcomp@.gmail.com> wrote in message news:1191065040.370537.182100@.19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
>> Hello,
>> I can't backup log. I tray normal backup log to disk, backup with
>> no_log (clean log without backup). I know where is problem but don't
>> know how resolve it. My problem cause open transaction.
>> DBCC OPENTRAN:
>> Transaction information for database 'db_name'.
>> Replicated Transaction Information:
>> Oldest distributed LSN : (68123:350:1)
>> Oldest non-distributed LSN : (73169:188:1)
>> DBCC execution completed. If DBCC printed error messages, contact your
>> system administrator.
>>
>> sys.databases (for this db):
>> log_reuse_wait
>> --
>> 6
>> log_reuse_wait_desc
>> --
>> REPLICATION
>>
>> I don't have setup replication, it is disabled, no publication and no
>> subscription. Maybe in past was.
>> DBCC LOGINFO return 72000 rows with status 2 .
>> 2 253952 8192 107212 2 128 0
>> 2 253952 262144 107213 2 128 0
>> 2 253952 516096 107214 2 64 0
>> 2 278528 770048 107215 2 64 0
>> 2 253952 1048576 107216 2 128 67569000000013600332
>> 2 253952 1302528 107217 2 128 67569000000013600332
>> 72000 similar rows
>> 2 253952 18823045120 144612 2 64
>> 144608000000025500065
>> 2 253952 18823299072 144613 2 64
>> 144608000000025500065
>> 2 286720 18823553024 144614 2 64
>> 144608000000025500065
>> 2 253952 18823839744 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
>> 2 253952 18824093696 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
>> 2 253952 18824347648 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
>> 2 286720 18824601600 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
>>
>> Tell me please how backup this log and shrink file
>> Thank you
>> --
>> Regards,
>> anxcomp
>|||TRUNCATE_ONLY or NO_LOG doesn't return any error, but it doesn't clean
no active transaction, so I can't shrink file. Log file is full
Virtual Log Files with status 2 and this mean I can't shrink file :(
All right I'll tray send this message to
microsoft.public.sqlserver.replication
Thanks
--
Regards,
anxcomp|||You might also want to Google for below. I got a number of hits, some sounded promising:
sp_repldone "log full"
--
Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP
http://www.karaszi.com/sqlserver/default.asp
http://sqlblog.com/blogs/tibor_karaszi
<anxcomp@.gmail.com> wrote in message news:1191091375.237234.86020@.d55g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> TRUNCATE_ONLY or NO_LOG doesn't return any error, but it doesn't clean
> no active transaction, so I can't shrink file. Log file is full
> Virtual Log Files with status 2 and this mean I can't shrink file :(
> All right I'll tray send this message to
> microsoft.public.sqlserver.replication
> Thanks
> --
> Regards,
> anxcomp
>|||My bad, sorry. We recently had a situation where we couldn't do something
because the DB thought it was being replicated. My employee had to update
something in the sysObjects table if Im not mistaken (I'd look right now my
my wife is loading up the kids to head out).
"Tibor Karaszi" <tibor_please.no.email_karaszi@.hotmail.nomail.com> wrote in
message news:43A7C6FA-C546-49F4-9B6B-6FD9EE4928E5@.microsoft.com...
> Chris,
> The problem seems to be that SQL Server believes that the database is
> publisher for transactional replication (according to output from DBCC
> OPENTRAN) and it counts the oldest log record that hasn't been read by the
> "Log Reader" replications process as an open transaction. I.e., using
> TRUNCATE_ONLY or NO_LOG won't help. The solution is to make SQL Server
> understand that there's no replication going on. Possibly sp_repldone, but
> I'm no replication expert, so anxcomp might be best server to ask in a
> replication group.
> --
> Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP
> http://www.karaszi.com/sqlserver/default.asp
> http://sqlblog.com/blogs/tibor_karaszi
>
> "ChrisR" <ChrisR@.foo.com> wrote in message
> news:%231b$8%23qAIHA.4836@.TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> You didn't really tell us what the problem with a TLog backup is (no
>> error message).
>> Tell me please how backup this log and shrink file
>> In an emergency, use:
>> Backup log dbName with truncate_only
>> dbcc shrinkfile('TLog fileName')
>>
>> <anxcomp@.gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1191065040.370537.182100@.19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
>> Hello,
>> I can't backup log. I tray normal backup log to disk, backup with
>> no_log (clean log without backup). I know where is problem but don't
>> know how resolve it. My problem cause open transaction.
>> DBCC OPENTRAN:
>> Transaction information for database 'db_name'.
>> Replicated Transaction Information:
>> Oldest distributed LSN : (68123:350:1)
>> Oldest non-distributed LSN : (73169:188:1)
>> DBCC execution completed. If DBCC printed error messages, contact your
>> system administrator.
>>
>> sys.databases (for this db):
>> log_reuse_wait
>> --
>> 6
>> log_reuse_wait_desc
>> --
>> REPLICATION
>>
>> I don't have setup replication, it is disabled, no publication and no
>> subscription. Maybe in past was.
>> DBCC LOGINFO return 72000 rows with status 2 .
>> 2 253952 8192 107212 2 128 0
>> 2 253952 262144 107213 2 128 0
>> 2 253952 516096 107214 2 64 0
>> 2 278528 770048 107215 2 64 0
>> 2 253952 1048576 107216 2 128 67569000000013600332
>> 2 253952 1302528 107217 2 128 67569000000013600332
>> 72000 similar rows
>> 2 253952 18823045120 144612 2 64
>> 144608000000025500065
>> 2 253952 18823299072 144613 2 64
>> 144608000000025500065
>> 2 286720 18823553024 144614 2 64
>> 144608000000025500065
>> 2 253952 18823839744 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
>> 2 253952 18824093696 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
>> 2 253952 18824347648 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
>> 2 286720 18824601600 0 0 0 144611000000025300320
>>
>> Tell me please how backup this log and shrink file
>> Thank you
>> --
>> Regards,
>> anxcomp
>>
>|||Hello,
Thank you Tibor. I got answer at replication group.
Bellow procedure solved my problem
EXEC sp_repldone @.xactid = NULL, @.xact_segno = NULL, @.numtrans = 0,
@.time
= 0, @.reset = 1
Your advice with Google always was good :)
Thanks
--
Regards,
anxcomp

cannot upgrade management studio

Hi,

I have clean install of Vista and Orcas March CTP. Vista automatically downloaded SP2 for SQL services. It does not come with Management Studio however, so I have to download it from web. There is only unupdated version for download, so I downloaded it and installed it. It does not work of course, but when I run the SP2 pack, it wrote me that half of the products are already updated and half of them are not updatable by the pack.

What should I do?

SQL Server SP2 does update the enterprise Management Studio, so I assume you are talking about Management Studio Express.

You should be able to uninstall Management Studio Express and then install Management Studio Express SP2 from this web site: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6053C6F8-82C8-479C-B25B-9ACA13141C9E&displaylang=en If you've already done that, you can verify that you have Management Studio Express SP2 by starting the application and then looking at the Help > About... dialog. SP2 is version 9.0.3042.

Hope this helps,

Steve

|||As explained you can accomplish as per the explanation above, if you are using ENterprise Management studio then you might try again applying the Service pack2.

cannot upgrade management studio

Hi,

I have clean install of Vista and Orcas March CTP. Vista automatically downloaded SP2 for SQL services. It does not come with Management Studio however, so I have to download it from web. There is only unupdated version for download, so I downloaded it and installed it. It does not work of course, but when I run the SP2 pack, it wrote me that half of the products are already updated and half of them are not updatable by the pack.

What should I do?

SQL Server SP2 does update the enterprise Management Studio, so I assume you are talking about Management Studio Express.

You should be able to uninstall Management Studio Express and then install Management Studio Express SP2 from this web site: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6053C6F8-82C8-479C-B25B-9ACA13141C9E&displaylang=en If you've already done that, you can verify that you have Management Studio Express SP2 by starting the application and then looking at the Help > About... dialog. SP2 is version 9.0.3042.

Hope this helps,

Steve

|||As explained you can accomplish as per the explanation above, if you are using ENterprise Management studio then you might try again applying the Service pack2.

Cannot uninstall SQL Express 2005 Instances

Using Windows XP SQL Express 2005...

In Windows Installer Clean Up, it shows two instances:

MSSMLBIZ (used by Outlook Enterprice 07 with BCM)

Control, Panel, Add Remove, Remove SQL Express 2005, shows:

CSOLUTION (which is disabled)

MSSMLBIZ (enabled for BCM 07)

SQLEXPRESS (which is disabled)

The disabled instances will not start due to various error messages.

Under Computer, Manager, Services, more instances are listsed, which also will not start:

SQLEXPRESSDATA for example (which is disabled)

I would like to remove CSOLUTION since it is not used; it will not remove from control panel or manually via http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/909967 . You get various error messages, such as

Another application has exclusive access to the file c:\program files\...errorlog. Please shut down all other applications, then try again.

Even after a reboot, I still get this error.

I want to install and use instance SQLExpress, and I cannot remove it, but it will not start, and trying to reinstall it fails.

It was simple under MSDE 2000, no2 it seems to be impossible.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Honestly, I would like to uninstall SQL Express 2005 completely (except the BCM instant), and start over, but canot find a way to do this. SQL Express is a mess, I have spent days trying to resolve this, and am still where I started.

Thanks, bob

Which error messages does the SQL Server Express service bring up ?

Jens K. Suessmeyer

http://www.sqlserver2005.de

|||

THe error message is stated in my post. If you do not get that error message, it looks like it is trying to uninstall, but then just returns to the Control panel add/remove listing the instances, with nothing removed and no further error messages.

Thanks,

Bob

Cannot uninstall SQL Express 2005 Instances

Using Windows XP SQL Express 2005...

In Windows Installer Clean Up, it shows two instances:

MSSMLBIZ (used by Outlook Enterprice 07 with BCM)

Control, Panel, Add Remove, Remove SQL Express 2005, shows:

CSOLUTION (which is disabled)

MSSMLBIZ (enabled for BCM 07)

SQLEXPRESS (which is disabled)

The disabled instances will not start due to various error messages.

Under Computer, Manager, Services, more instances are listsed, which also will not start:

SQLEXPRESSDATA for example (which is disabled)

I would like to remove CSOLUTION since it is not used; it will not remove from control panel or manually via http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/909967 . You get various error messages, such as

Another application has exclusive access to the file c:\program files\...errorlog. Please shut down all other applications, then try again.

Even after a reboot, I still get this error.

I want to install and use instance SQLExpress, and I cannot remove it, but it will not start, and trying to reinstall it fails.

It was simple under MSDE 2000, no2 it seems to be impossible.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Honestly, I would like to uninstall SQL Express 2005 completely (except the BCM instant), and start over, but canot find a way to do this. SQL Express is a mess, I have spent days trying to resolve this, and am still where I started.

Thanks, bob

Which error messages does the SQL Server Express service bring up ?

Jens K. Suessmeyer

http://www.sqlserver2005.de

|||

THe error message is stated in my post. If you do not get that error message, it looks like it is trying to uninstall, but then just returns to the Control panel add/remove listing the instances, with nothing removed and no further error messages.

Thanks,

Bob

Cannot transfer/copy database in one step like I could with 2000.

Hi,

I would like to know if there will every be a clean way to transfer a database from a remote server to a local server (and back again). I've tried several different approaches, but they all currently have bugs/problems.

I've looked into database publishing wizard - but this creates a huge script that takes 10x longer to run than the old DTS transfer.

I've tried copying data, and objects separate, but this requires multiple steps, using DTS this was all done in one step.

I've tried using SSIS Transfer SQL Objects, but the defaults are not created, using DTS, the ENTIRE database was transfered, which is what I want.

I've tried using SSIS Transfer Database, but even when I select "Online" mode, I get an error asking me to select at least one source file, but there is nothing to select (no files appear in the pop up window).

I've tried copy database or backup database, but I do not have suffient permission on the remote server for these.

So many different ways to do it, but all fail!

PLEASE - make a simple way to transfer a database from a remote host and back again. I want to be able to select a database source and destination and have the database copied. PLEASE - at least restore the old way until other options are working first.

mpavlik wrote:

I've tried using SSIS Transfer Database, but even when I select

"Online" mode, I get an error asking me to select at least one source

file, but there is nothing to select (no files appear in the pop up

window).

Offline:
Once you set SourceConnection and SourceDatabaseName, you should be able to set the network share for database files to be transferred by clicking on "..." in SourceDatabaseFiles value column.

Online:
Once you set SourceConnection and SourceDatabaseName, the value of source database files is automatically populated.

Do you see this behavior? If not, please report what you are observing and we might be able to help.|||

Offline - I am not able to set the network share because I cannot browse (the window pops up, but there are no files to select). This may be a permission issue with the host server. I don't even know what the path would be to type it in.

Online - yes, the database name is auto-populated (or I can type it in), however when I try to run the package, validation fails because "at least one source must be selected"... Maybe I do not understand the error message, but I am assuming this is because the path to the database file is not selected ? ... even though it is greyed out. I don't know what else it could be, because everything else is populated.

Try looking at these:

http://manycounselors.com/taskdetail.jpg

http://manycounselors.com/taskerror.jpg

|||In the image taskdetail.jpg, SourceDatabaseFiles value is not set. This property is set automatically after you select the database name. If you type an invalid database name, then the source database files property is not automatically populated. I think you typed the source database name instead of selecting it from the drop-down box. You might have entered an invalid database name and your error message could be due this reason. Try selecting the source database instead of typing. (You can see the list of available databases in the server by clicking on the button that appears in the right end of the property value column. This button appears when you click on the value column.)|||

I double checked it... I am selecting the database from the drop down list. The problem is that the database source file is not being automatically selected. It stays blank. Is this only happening for me? Seems like a bug.

|||Can anyone confirm this as a bug, or tell me what I am doing wrong?|||I continue to experience this error. Can someone please help... This is a bug?!?|||I could not get to repro this in my machines? Could there be something wrong with your install? Is there another machine that you can use to repeat this behavior?|||I get exactly the same error, on a brand new install of SQL 2005 SP2 / Visual Studio 2005 SP1. I'm definitely selecting my source database from the dropdown (not typing it in) and the SourceDatabaseFiles file field is not autopopulated, whether the method is DatabaseOnline or DatabaseOffline. This seems doubly poor as I don't even *need* the source file specified to run a DatabaseOnline transfer, but nevertheless because the system fails to populate it, I can't run the package! It fails with the error message "At least one source file must be specified."

Like mpavlik above I'm left with no easy bug free way of transferring my database between servers which kind of sucks ...

Cannot transfer/copy database in one step like I could with 2000.

Hi,

I would like to know if there will every be a clean way to transfer a database from a remote server to a local server (and back again). I've tried several different approaches, but they all currently have bugs/problems.

I've looked into database publishing wizard - but this creates a huge script that takes 10x longer to run than the old DTS transfer.

I've tried copying data, and objects separate, but this requires multiple steps, using DTS this was all done in one step.

I've tried using SSIS Transfer SQL Objects, but the defaults are not created, using DTS, the ENTIRE database was transfered, which is what I want.

I've tried using SSIS Transfer Database, but even when I select "Online" mode, I get an error asking me to select at least one source file, but there is nothing to select (no files appear in the pop up window).

I've tried copy database or backup database, but I do not have suffient permission on the remote server for these.

So many different ways to do it, but all fail!

PLEASE - make a simple way to transfer a database from a remote host and back again. I want to be able to select a database source and destination and have the database copied. PLEASE - at least restore the old way until other options are working first.

mpavlik wrote:

I've tried using SSIS Transfer Database, but even when I select "Online" mode, I get an error asking me to select at least one source file, but there is nothing to select (no files appear in the pop up window).

Offline:
Once you set SourceConnection and SourceDatabaseName, you should be able to set the network share for database files to be transferred by clicking on "..." in SourceDatabaseFiles value column.

Online:
Once you set SourceConnection and SourceDatabaseName, the value of source database files is automatically populated.

Do you see this behavior? If not, please report what you are observing and we might be able to help.|||

Offline - I am not able to set the network share because I cannot browse (the window pops up, but there are no files to select). This may be a permission issue with the host server. I don't even know what the path would be to type it in.

Online - yes, the database name is auto-populated (or I can type it in), however when I try to run the package, validation fails because "at least one source must be selected"... Maybe I do not understand the error message, but I am assuming this is because the path to the database file is not selected ? ... even though it is greyed out. I don't know what else it could be, because everything else is populated.

Try looking at these:

http://manycounselors.com/taskdetail.jpg

http://manycounselors.com/taskerror.jpg

|||In the image taskdetail.jpg, SourceDatabaseFiles value is not set. This property is set automatically after you select the database name. If you type an invalid database name, then the source database files property is not automatically populated. I think you typed the source database name instead of selecting it from the drop-down box. You might have entered an invalid database name and your error message could be due this reason. Try selecting the source database instead of typing. (You can see the list of available databases in the server by clicking on the button that appears in the right end of the property value column. This button appears when you click on the value column.)|||

I double checked it... I am selecting the database from the drop down list. The problem is that the database source file is not being automatically selected. It stays blank. Is this only happening for me? Seems like a bug.

|||Can anyone confirm this as a bug, or tell me what I am doing wrong?|||I continue to experience this error. Can someone please help... This is a bug?!?|||I could not get to repro this in my machines? Could there be something wrong with your install? Is there another machine that you can use to repeat this behavior?|||I get exactly the same error, on a brand new install of SQL 2005 SP2 / Visual Studio 2005 SP1. I'm definitely selecting my source database from the dropdown (not typing it in) and the SourceDatabaseFiles file field is not autopopulated, whether the method is DatabaseOnline or DatabaseOffline. This seems doubly poor as I don't even *need* the source file specified to run a DatabaseOnline transfer, but nevertheless because the system fails to populate it, I can't run the package! It fails with the error message "At least one source file must be specified."

Like mpavlik above I'm left with no easy bug free way of transferring my database between servers which kind of sucks ...

Cannot transfer/copy database in one step like I could with 2000.

Hi,

I would like to know if there will every be a clean way to transfer a database from a remote server to a local server (and back again). I've tried several different approaches, but they all currently have bugs/problems.

I've looked into database publishing wizard - but this creates a huge script that takes 10x longer to run than the old DTS transfer.

I've tried copying data, and objects separate, but this requires multiple steps, using DTS this was all done in one step.

I've tried using SSIS Transfer SQL Objects, but the defaults are not created, using DTS, the ENTIRE database was transfered, which is what I want.

I've tried using SSIS Transfer Database, but even when I select "Online" mode, I get an error asking me to select at least one source file, but there is nothing to select (no files appear in the pop up window).

I've tried copy database or backup database, but I do not have suffient permission on the remote server for these.

So many different ways to do it, but all fail!

PLEASE - make a simple way to transfer a database from a remote host and back again. I want to be able to select a database source and destination and have the database copied. PLEASE - at least restore the old way until other options are working first.

mpavlik wrote:

I've tried using SSIS Transfer Database, but even when I select

"Online" mode, I get an error asking me to select at least one source

file, but there is nothing to select (no files appear in the pop up

window).

Offline:
Once you set SourceConnection and SourceDatabaseName, you should be able to set the network share for database files to be transferred by clicking on "..." in SourceDatabaseFiles value column.

Online:
Once you set SourceConnection and SourceDatabaseName, the value of source database files is automatically populated.

Do you see this behavior? If not, please report what you are observing and we might be able to help.|||

Offline - I am not able to set the network share because I cannot browse (the window pops up, but there are no files to select). This may be a permission issue with the host server. I don't even know what the path would be to type it in.

Online - yes, the database name is auto-populated (or I can type it in), however when I try to run the package, validation fails because "at least one source must be selected"... Maybe I do not understand the error message, but I am assuming this is because the path to the database file is not selected ? ... even though it is greyed out. I don't know what else it could be, because everything else is populated.

Try looking at these:

http://manycounselors.com/taskdetail.jpg

http://manycounselors.com/taskerror.jpg

|||In the image taskdetail.jpg, SourceDatabaseFiles value is not set. This property is set automatically after you select the database name. If you type an invalid database name, then the source database files property is not automatically populated. I think you typed the source database name instead of selecting it from the drop-down box. You might have entered an invalid database name and your error message could be due this reason. Try selecting the source database instead of typing. (You can see the list of available databases in the server by clicking on the button that appears in the right end of the property value column. This button appears when you click on the value column.)|||

I double checked it... I am selecting the database from the drop down list. The problem is that the database source file is not being automatically selected. It stays blank. Is this only happening for me? Seems like a bug.

|||Can anyone confirm this as a bug, or tell me what I am doing wrong?|||I continue to experience this error. Can someone please help... This is a bug?!?|||I could not get to repro this in my machines? Could there be something wrong with your install? Is there another machine that you can use to repeat this behavior?|||I get exactly the same error, on a brand new install of SQL 2005 SP2 / Visual Studio 2005 SP1. I'm definitely selecting my source database from the dropdown (not typing it in) and the SourceDatabaseFiles file field is not autopopulated, whether the method is DatabaseOnline or DatabaseOffline. This seems doubly poor as I don't even *need* the source file specified to run a DatabaseOnline transfer, but nevertheless because the system fails to populate it, I can't run the package! It fails with the error message "At least one source file must be specified."

Like mpavlik above I'm left with no easy bug free way of transferring my database between servers which kind of sucks ...