SQL Server - BobMgrGetBuf Sort Big Output Buffer write not complete after 60 seconds

Sometimes you may see this message in the SQL Server Error Log files

 BobMgrGetBuf Sort Big Output Buffer write not complete after 60 seconds

It’s associated with IO subsystem issues , other common errors appearing and related are:

SQL Server has encountered 1 occurrence(s) of I/O requests taking longer than 15 seconds to complete on file

Read more on  IO Requests taking longer than 15 seconds to - SQL Server DBA

The message relates to large SORTS , probably the TempDB. Bob is the Big Output Buffer. Writres are heavy sequential and occur  on transit tables .During the heavy sequential writes, it is possible the disk IO cannot maintain the resource requirements.

 There are two options :

1)Reduce the workload

2)Add resources

Reducing the workload could mean : a) make queries more efficient and can be achieved through analysing the query Execution Plan, b)  review index usage. Both options  can be quick wins without much justification required in spending terms.

Justifying adding more resource such as  disk resource can be trickier – disk can be expensive but including management of the disk can increase costs.

Other options:

1)       If relevant – use Lock Pages in Memory

2)       Work with network \ storage administrators to identify the bottleneck . To identify what is delaying the IO. The bottleneck can occur across the whole environment – such as SVC, network switches and Disk arrays.

Read More

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IO Requests taking longer than 15 seconds to - SQL Server DBA

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