Microsoft KB Archive/931821

= FIX: High CPU utilization by SQL Server 2005 may occur when you use NUMA architecture on a computer that has SQL Server 2005 installed =

Article ID: 931821

Article Last Modified on 11/30/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard X64 Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise X64 Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition

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Bug #: 50000684 (SQL Hotfix)



Microsoft distributes Microsoft SQL Server 2005 fixes as one downloadable file. Because the fixes are cumulative, each new release contains all the hotfixes and all the security fixes that were included with the previous SQL Server 2005 fix release.



SUMMARY
This article describes the following about this hotfix release:
 * The issues that are fixed by the hotfix package
 * The prerequisites for installing the hotfix package
 * Whether you must restart the computer after you install the hotfix package
 * Whether the hotfix package is replaced by any other hotfix package
 * Whether you must make any registry changes
 * The files that are contained in the hotfix package



SYMPTOMS
Consider the following scenario. You have Microsoft SQL Server 2005 installed on a computer. You use non-uniform memory access (NUMA) architecture on the computer. In this scenario, SQL Server 2005 may represent a large percentage of the utilization of one or more CPUs. This may be true even when no queries are running.

This high CPU utilization may be likely to occur soon after the SQL Server service starts. The high CPU utilization occurs on the lazy writer thread. When you query the sysprocesses system table, you see that one or more rows of the table have a value of LAZY WRITER in the cmd column. If you query this table repeatedly while this problem occurs, you may notice that the value of the cpu column for one or more of these rows constantly increases.



Cumulative update information for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2
To resolve this problem, install the cumulative update package (build 3161) for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2. For more information about how to obtain this cumulative update package, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

935356 Cumulative update package (build 3161) for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 is available

Hotfix information for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
You must have SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1 (SP1) installed. For more information about how to obtain SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

913089 How to obtain the latest service pack for SQL Server 2005

Restart information
You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix is not replaced by any other hotfixes.

Registry information
You do not have to change the registry.

File information
This hotfix contains only those files that are required to correct the issues that this article lists. This hotfix may not contain all the files that you must have to fully update a product to the latest build.

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

SQL Server 2005 SP1-based hotfix, x64-based version


STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
For more information about the naming schema for SQL Server updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

822499 New naming schema for Microsoft SQL Server software update packages

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Additional query words: CPU spin, NUMA, CPU-bound

Keywords: kbfix kbqfe kbpubtypekc kbexpertiseadvanced kbhotfixserver kbsql2005engine KB931821

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