SQL Server Partition Recreate Procedure Blocked by Other Queries? Here’s the Fix!

Identifying the blocking query

Before we create a solution, we need to identify the query that’s blocking our partition recreate procedure. Here’s how:

1. Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and connect to your instance.
2. Run the following query to identify the blocking session:

         SELECT 
           r.session_id, 
           r.request_id, 
           r.command, 
           r.status, 
           r.wait_type, 
           r.wait_resource, 
           rwait_time, 
           t.Text AS sql_text
         FROM 
           sys.dm_exec_requests r
         CROSS APPLY 
           sys.dm_exec_sql_text(r.sql_handle) t
         WHERE 
           r.command IN ('INSERT', 'UPDATE', 'DELETE')
         AND r.wait_type IN ('PAGEIOLATCH_EX', 'PAGEIOLATCH_SH', 'LCK_M_X')
       

3. Take note of the session_id and request_id of the blocking query.
4. Run the following query to get the query plan and execution stats of the blocking query:

         SELECT * 
         FROM sys.dm_exec_query_stats 
         WHERE plan_handle IN (
           SELECT plan_handle 
           FROM sys.dm_exec_requests 
           WHERE session_id = <blocking_session_id> 
           AND request_id = <blocking_request_id>
         )
       

Solving the blocking issue

Now that we’ve identified the blocking query, let’s solve the issue. Here are some strategies to help you overcome the blocking query:

1. Kill the blocking session

Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best. If the blocking query is not critical, you can kill the session using the following command:

KILL <blocking_session_id>

Be cautious when killing a session, as it might lead to data inconsistencies or errors.

2. Analyze and optimize the blocking query

If the blocking query is critical, analyze its execution plan and optimize it for better performance. Here are some tips:

• Check for index fragmentation and rebuild or reorganize indexes as needed.
• Optimize the query plan using hints or query rewrites.
• Consider rewriting the query to use set-based operations instead of row-by-row processing.

3. Implement resource-intensive query scheduling

Schedule your resource-intensive queries during maintenance windows or off-peak hours to avoid conflicts with other queries. You can use SQL Server Agent jobs or third-party scheduling tools to achieve this.

4. Utilize parallel processing

If possible, refactor your partition recreate procedure to utilize parallel processing. This can help reduce the overall execution time and minimize the impact on other queries.

5. Implement query prioritization

Use the Resource Governor feature in SQL Server to prioritize your partition recreate procedure over other queries. This ensures that your critical procedure gets the necessary resources to execute efficiently.

Recreating the partition

Now that we’ve solved the blocking issue, let’s recreate the partition:

ALTER PARTITION SCHEME ps 
REBUILD PARTITION pf 
WITH 
( 
    DATA_COMPRESSION = PAGE,
    ONLINE = OFF
);

Remember to replace “ps” with your partition scheme name and “pf” with your partition function name.

Conclusion

And that’s it! By following this guide, you should be able to identify and resolve the blocking issue, and successfully recreate your partition. Remember to monitor your system for any performance bottlenecks and optimize your queries regularly to ensure a smooth operation.

By following these best practices, you’ll be well on your way to creating a high-performing and scalable SQL Server environment. Happy querying!

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