This article is a summary of my presentation at Office Connections held in Orlando April 30, 2008. It summarizes the most-common issues with SharePoint, how to avoid them, and how to fix them. Here is a list of topics:
- Install Service Pack 1
- Runaway Transaction Logs
- Runaway SharePoint Logs
- Protected Memory Errors
- IISWAMREG Admin Service Errors
- Timer Job Errors
- Update Conflicts
- Performance Issues
- Customization Errors
- Security Errors
Install Service Pack 1
The first recommendation is to make sure that you have SP1 installed. SP1 has over 2500 fixes, and can go a long way to helping you avoid issues.
WSS SP1 Download
MOSS SP1 Download
Runaway Transaction Logs
One of the most common issues with SharePoint farms is runaway transaction logs associated with the SQL Server databases. This is really not a SharePoint issue, but a SQL Server issue. This issue is caused by the fact that most SharePoint databases are created in Full-Recovery mode. This means that SQL Server retains a log of every transaction that occurs on the database since the last database backup. If you never backup your SharePoint databases, then the transaction log will continue to grow until all the disk space is used up.
Symptoms
- Little or no available disk space on SQL Server
- Huge transaction log files
Recovery
Step 1: Backup the Transaction Log manually from the UI. This will truncate the log, but not shrink it.
From http://support.microsoft.com/kb/873235
When the transaction logs grow to an unacceptable limit, you must immediately back up your transaction log file. While the backup of your transaction log files is created, SQL Server automatically truncates the inactive part of the transaction log. The inactive part of the transaction log file contains the completed transactions, and therefore, the transaction log file is no longer used by SQL Server during the recovery process. SQL Server reuses this truncated, inactive space in the transaction log instead of permitting the transaction log to continue to grow and to use more space.
Step 2: Manually shrink the log file from the UI.
From http://support.microsoft.com/kb/873235
The backup operation does not reduce the log file size. To reduce the size of the transaction log file, you must shrink the transaction log file. To shrink a transaction log file to the requested size and to remove the unused pages, you must use the DBCC SHRINKFILE operation. The DBCC SHRINKFILE Transact-SQL statement can only shrink the inactive part inside the log file.
Prevention
Option 1: Switch to Simple recovery Mode for non-production SharePoint databases.
This will prevent the transaction log from growing because simple recovery mode does not keep transaction history. Use the following SQL Statement:
USE Master
SELECT Name, Recovery_Model_Desc FROM Sys.Databases
ALTER DATABASE [name] SET RECOVERY SIMPLE WITH NO_WAIT
Option 2: Create a database maintenance plan for all SharePoint databases
Creating the Database Maintenance Plan
1. Open SQL Server Management Studio
2. Right click the SQL Server Agent and select Start from the context menu.
3. Expand the tree and select Management►Maintenance Plans
4. Right click the Maintenance Plans folder and select Maintenance Plan Wizard from the context menu.
5. On the Welcome screen, click the Next button.
6. On the Select Plan Properties screen, name the plan “MOSS Maintenance”
7. Click the Change button
8. Modify the schedule (daily recommended) and click the OK button.
9. Click the Next button
10. On the Select Maintenance Tasks screen, check the following tasks:
- Check Database Integrity
- Reorganize Index
- Update Statistics
- Clean Up History
- Backup Database (Full)
11. Click the Next button.
12. On the Select Maintenance Task Order screen, click the Next button.
13. On the Define Database Check Integrity Task screen, drop the list and select all of the SharePoint databases.
14. Check the Include Indexes box.
15. Click the Next button.
16. On the Define Reorganize Index Task screen, drop the list and select all of the SharePoint databases.
17. Check the Compact Large Objects box.
18. Click the Next button.
19. On the Define Update Statistics Task screen, drop the list and select all of the SharePoint databases.
20. Select the All Existing Statistics option.
21. Select the Full Scan option.
22. Click the Next button.
23. On the Define History Cleanup Task screen, click the Next button.
24. On the Define Back Up Database (Full) Task screen, drop the list and select all of the SharePoint databases.
25. Check the box titled “Create a subdirectory for each database”.
26. Change the backup location, if desired.
27. Click the Next button.
28. On the Select Report Options screen, click Next.
Creating the Transaction Log Maintenance Plan
If this installation is not a production environment, consider changing the recovery mode for all databases to SIMPLE using the following
ALTER DATABASE [name] SET RECOVERY SIMPLE WITH NO_WAIT
1. Open SQL Server Management Studio
2. Right click the SQL Server Agent and select Start from the context menu.
3. Expand the tree and select Management►Maintenance Plans
4. Right click the Maintenance Plans folder and select Maintenance Plan Wizard from the context menu.
5. On the Welcome screen, click the Next button.
6. On the Select Plan Properties screen, name the plan “MOSS Log Maintenance”
7. Click the Change button
8. Under the Frequency section, Select Daily from the Occurs drop-down list
9. Under the Daily frequency section, select the Occurs Every option.
10. Set the Start Time to 9:00:00 AM.
11. Set the End Time to 5:30:00 PM
12. Click the OK button.
13. Click the Next button.
14. On the Select Maintenance Tasks screen, check Backup Database (Transaction Log)
15. Click the Next button.
16. On the Select Maintenance Task Order screen, click the Next button.
17. On the Define Back Up Database (Transaction Log) Task screen, drop the list and select all of the SharePoint content databases.
SSP, WSS Search and MOSS Search databases are set to simple recovery model, so their transaction logs will not grow.
18. Check the box titled “Create a subdirectory for each database”.
19. Change the backup location, if desired.
20. Click the Next button.
21. On the Select Report Options screen, click Next.
Runaway SharePoint Logs
Another area where disk space can be used up quickly is through the SharePoint Unified Logging Service (ULS). The ULS writes text-file logs to the LOGS folder in the System Directory (\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12).
Symptoms
Many large text files located in the LOGS directory
Recovery
Delete old files to regain space as necessary
Prevention
Throttle the logging service by opening Central Administration, clicking the "Operations" tab and going to "Diagnotic Logging". On the Diagnostic logging page, throttle the logged events by selecting a minimum level of severity for logging.
Protected Memory Errors
This error shows itself as several different errors in the Event Log all saying that SharePoint attempted to read or write protected memory.
Symptoms
- Event Log entries: Attempted to read or write to protected memory
- Can’t open IIS Manager
- Can’t make new web applications
Recovery & Prevention
IISWAMREG Admin Service Errors
Symptoms
In the Event Log, you see the following:
Type: Error
Source: DCOM
Category: None
Event ID: 10017
Description:
The application-specific permissions settings do not grant Local Activation permission for the COM Server application with CLSID {CLSID} to the user DomainName\UserName SID {SID}. This security permission can be modified using the Component Services administration tool.
Recovery & Prevention
1. Click Start, click Run, type dcomcnfg in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Expand Component Services, expand Computers, expand My Computer, and then click DCOM Config.
3. Right-click IIS WAMREG admin Service, and then click Properties.
4. Click the Security tab.
5. Under Launch and Activation Permissions, click Edit.
6. In the Launch Permission dialog box, click Add.
7. In the Select Users, Computers, or Groups dialog box, type the domain user account that you specified as the Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 service account, click Check Names, and then click OK.
8. In the Permissions for UserName list, click to select the Allow check box that is next to Local Activation, and then click OK two times.
Here are some additional references:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920783
http://blogs.vertigo.com/personal/steventap/Blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=21
Timer Job Errors
There are two timer services in SharePoint that are responsible for running various jobs that keep the farm healthy. If you have issues with these services, then you may see these jobs fail.
Symptoms
- Failed jobs in Central Admin
- Installed solutions fail to deploy
- Created web apps fail to create on every server
Recovery
- Recycle "Windows SharePoint Services Timer" and "Windows SharePoint Services Administration" on every server in the farm.
- Run stsadm -o execadmsvcjobs on every server in the farm
Prevention
To prevent these issues, create a batch file that periodically recycles the services.
1. Open NotePad and add the following lines:
NET STOP "Windows SharePoint Services Timer"
NET START "Windows SharePoint Services Timer"
NET STOP "Windows SharePoint Services Administration"
NET START "Windows SharePoint Services Administration"
STSADM -o ExecAdmSvcJobs
2. Save the file as "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\ISAPI\RecycleSharePointServiceTimer.bat"
3. Select Control Panel►Scheduled Tasks►Add Scheduled Task.
4. In the Schedule Task Wizard, click the Next button.
5. Click the Browse button and locate the file "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\ISAPI\RecycleSharePointServiceTimer.bat."
6. Select to perform the task daily and click the Next button.
7. Schedule the task to start at 4:00 AM Every Day and click the Next button.
8. Enter credentials for executing the task and click the Next button.
9. Check the box to open the Advanced Properties and click the Finish button.
10. Click the Schedule tab and then click the Advanced button.
11. Check the Repeat Task box.
12. Schedule the task to repeat every 4 hours.
13. Select the Time option and enter 3:00AM.
14. Click the OK button.
15. Click the OK button.
Update Conflicts
Whenever you update SharePoint system passwords, you can have issues with SharePoint being able to access databases and run jobs.
Symptoms
In the Event Log, you see the following error:
An update conflict has occurred, and you must re-try this action. The object SPApplicationPool Name=SharePoint Central Administration v3 Parent=SPWebService Name=WSS_Administration is being updated by {...}, in the STSADM process, on machine {...}. View the tracing log for more information about the conflict.
Recovery & Prevention
Clear the File System cache on the SharePoint front end servers using this procedure: (From http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939308).
1. Stop the Timer service. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
b. Right-click Windows SharePoint Services Timer, and then click Stop.
2. Delete or move the contents of the following folder:
%ALLUSERSPROFILE% \Application Data\Microsoft\SharePoint\Config\GUID
3. Start the Timer service. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
b. Right-click Windows SharePoint Services Timer, and then click Start.
Note The file system cache is re-created after you perform this procedure. Make sure that you perform this procedure on all servers in the server farm on which the Timer service is running.
Performance Issues
Various performance issues like slow page loads.
Symptoms
Recovery
- Reduce number/complexity of web parts
- Evaluate lists
- Evaluate web part architecture
Prevention
- Control number of web parts
- Delete unused web parts
- List Maintenance (2000 Items, Indexed columns)
- Avoid programming pitfalls (undisposed objects, excessive looping)
- Enable caching
Customization Errors
Symptoms
- Generic SharePoint Error Page
Recovery
- ?contents=1 and delete web part
- Restore default master page
- Deactivate offending feature
- Disable custom errors
Prevention
Security Errors
Symptoms
Request for the permission of type 'Microsoft.SharePoint.Security.SharePointPermission, Microsoft.SharePoint.Security, Version=12.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=71e9bce111e9429c' failed
Recovery
Adjust security policy
Prevention
Custom security policies