DTS job hang at ActiveX script steps

Dear all,

We have a set of scheduled DTS jobs which run OK for months on SQL2000 SP3.
Recently (since mid July) we found them hang up and cannot finish. Symptoms
as below :-

1) The hang up only happens on those DTS jobs with ActiveX script steps,
while DTS jobs executing plain T-SQL / data pump is not affected
2) The DTS package while run on console also hang up at the active X Script
step
3) The problem gone after system reboot, however, this does not last long.
On one occasion, after a reboot, I can run such a DTS job several times,
then, the hang up happens again. On another occasion, after a reboot last
night, I can run the DTS job once, then the hang up happen again.
4) When the hang up happens, I can not start Control Panel, however, File
Explorer is OK. (I cannot figure out what is in common among DTS panel vs
Control Panel)
5) I have try to use Task Manager / Process Viewer to look at what happens
when it runs, I just notice that DTSRUN.EXE stuck there. In normal time, the
DTSRUN.EXE just shown up and gone after finish
6) The job can be cancelled, DTSRUN also gone after that.

Research done so far :-
1) We are suspecting there should be some sort of waiting occurs during
running the ActiveX steps, but don't know what it wait for.
2) From MS support web site, we notice 2 article with relevance
3) KB290077 - DTS scheduled job does not complete after first run, however,
as we are running SQL2000 SP3, we do not think it applies.
4) KB318819 - A DTS Package raises exceptions or stops responding when you
run it as a scheduled job. The work around as described has already applied
(e.g. execute on main package thread), but nothing change occurs.

Even if no in place solution exist, I would be grateful if anyone can
suggest proper steps to follow to continue on the investigation.

Thanks ... Eric

Eric,

What is it that ActiveX tasks are doing?

Ilya

"Eric Fung" wrote in message

> Dear all,
>
> We have a set of scheduled DTS jobs which run OK for months on SQL2000
SP3.
> Recently (since mid July) we found them hang up and cannot finish.
Symptoms
> as below :-
>
> 1) The hang up only happens on those DTS jobs with ActiveX script steps,
> while DTS jobs executing plain T-SQL / data pump is not affected
> 2) The DTS package while run on console also hang up at the active X
Script
> step
> 3) The problem gone after system reboot, however, this does not last long.
> On one occasion, after a reboot, I can run such a DTS job several times,
> then, the hang up happens again. On another occasion, after a reboot last
> night, I can run the DTS job once, then the hang up happen again.
> 4) When the hang up happens, I can not start Control Panel, however, File
> Explorer is OK. (I cannot figure out what is in common among DTS panel vs
> Control Panel)
> 5) I have try to use Task Manager / Process Viewer to look at what happens
> when it runs, I just notice that DTSRUN.EXE stuck there. In normal time,
the
> DTSRUN.EXE just shown up and gone after finish
> 6) The job can be cancelled, DTSRUN also gone after that.
>
> Research done so far :-
> 1) We are suspecting there should be some sort of waiting occurs during
> running the ActiveX steps, but don't know what it wait for.
> 2) From MS support web site, we notice 2 article with relevance
> 3) KB290077 - DTS scheduled job does not complete after first run,
however,
> as we are running SQL2000 SP3, we do not think it applies.
> 4) KB318819 - A DTS Package raises exceptions or stops responding when you
> run it as a scheduled job. The work around as described has already
applied
> (e.g. execute on main package thread), but nothing change occurs.
>
> Even if no in place solution exist, I would be grateful if anyone can
> suggest proper steps to follow to continue on the investigation.
>
> Thanks ... Eric
>