retention-based meta data cleanup

[asjan]

Hi

I am running a couple of sql 2000 SP3a servers with merge and snapshot replication. One server acting as publisher and distributor and the rest subscribers. On one of the server I have got the error below and have tried most of the suggestions by msdn. This server has not crashed ever before or any hardware problems. It has been running for a couple of months and no problems. This has not happened no any of the other servers. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as the only resolution I have left is to bring up a new instance, setup replication and see if this would resolve the issue. Stopping and starting of agents don't work.


[4/18/2005 11:59:20 AM]BRAAMPDC1\ICAS2000.HO_Master: {call sp_MSgetversion }
[4/18/2005 11:59:20 AM]BRAAMPDC1\ICAS2000.distribution: {call sp_MShelp_subscriber_info (N'BRAAMPDC1\ICAS2000', N'EASTSRV3')}
Connecting to Subscriber 'EASTSRV3.ICASData'

Server: EASTSRV3
DBMS: Microsoft SQL Server
Version: 08.00.0760
user name: dbo
API conformance: 2
SQL conformance: 1
transaction capable: 2
read only: N
identifier quote char: "
non_nullable_columns: 1
owner usage: 31
max table name len: 128
max column name len: 128
need long data len: Y
max columns in table: 1024
max columns in index: 16
max char literal len: 524288
max statement len: 524288
max row size: 524288

[4/18/2005 11:59:27 AM]EASTSRV3.ICASData: {call sp_MSgetversion }
Percent Complete: 2
Connecting to Subscriber 'EASTSRV3'
Percent Complete: 3
Retrieving publication information
Percent Complete: 4
Retrieving subscription information
Percent Complete: 4
The merge process is cleaning up meta data in database 'HO_Master'.
Percent Complete: 4
The merge process cleaned up 0 row(s) in MSmerge_genhistory, 0 row(s) in MSmerge_contents, and 0 row(s) in MSmerge_tombstone.
Percent Complete: 4
The merge process is cleaning up meta data in database 'ICASData'.
The merge process could not perform retention-based meta data cleanup in database 'ICASData'.
Percent Complete: 0
The merge process could not perform retention-based meta data cleanup in database 'ICASData'.
Percent Complete: 0
Category:NULL
Source: Merge Replication Provider
Number: -2147199467
Message: The merge process could not perform retention-based meta data cleanup in database 'ICASData'.
Percent Complete: 0
Category:COMMAND
Source: Failed Command
Number: 0
Message: {call sp_mergemetadataretentioncleanup(?, ?, ?)}
Percent Complete: 0
Category:SQLSERVER
Source: EASTSRV3
Number: 11
Message: General network error. Check your network documentation.

[Rawhide]

Errors like "retention-based meta data cleanup" errors are generally caused by network errors. It can be something as simple as extremely high network traffic or a faulty Nic card.

We used to get quite a bit of these errors because we were using load balanced Nic cards on our SQL Servers .... which is problematic at times. We switched to using single heavy duty Nic cards and the problem was pretty much resolved.

If this does happen now, generally it will clear up if I stop the merge agent, wait about 30 seconds, and then start it up again. If that doesn't work, try rebooting.