Blocking in SQL Server occurs when one session holds a lock on a resource
(e.g., a row, page, or table) that another session is trying to access. This
can cause performance degradation, as the blocked session has to wait
until the blocking session releases the lock. Monitoring and resolving
blocking is crucial to maintaining SQL Server performance.
1. Monitor Blocking in SQL Server
Here are several methods to monitor and identify blocking:
a. Using Activity Monitor in SQL Server Management Studio
(SSMS)
Open SSMS and connect to your SQL Server instance.
Right-click on the server in Object Explorer and select Activity
Monitor.
In the Processes section, you can see the active sessions, their
state, and whether they are blocking or being blocked.
The Blocking Session ID column indicates which session is
causing the block, and the Blocked By column shows which session
is blocked.
b. Using sp_who2 Stored Procedure
The sp_who2 system stored procedure provides session information,
including blocking details.
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EXEC sp_who2;
Look for rows where the BlkBy column is greater than 0. This indicates the
session is being blocked by the session listed in the BlkBy column.
To specifically check for blocking, you can run the following query:
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EXEC sp_who2;
-- Or to filter for blocked processes:
SELECT * FROM sys.sysprocesses WHERE blocked <> 0;
c. Using Dynamic Management Views (DMVs)
DMVs provide real-time insights into SQL Server activity. You can use the
sys.dm_exec_requests DMV to identify blocking.
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SELECT
blocking_session_id AS BlockingSessionID,
session_id AS BlockedSessionID,
wait_type,
wait_time,
wait_resource,
status,
command,
sql_text.text AS QueryText
FROM sys.dm_exec_requests AS r
CROSS APPLY sys.dm_exec_sql_text(r.sql_handle) AS sql_text
WHERE r.blocking_session_id <> 0;
This query will return information about the blocking session, including:
BlockingSessionID: The ID of the session causing the block.
BlockedSessionID: The ID of the session that is being blocked.
sql_text: The SQL query being executed by the blocking session.
d. Using SQL Server Profiler
SQL Server Profiler can help capture blocking events over time. Set up a
trace that captures Lock:Deadlock and Lock:Blocked events to monitor
blocking.
2. Resolve Blocking in SQL Server
Once you identify the blocking session, there are a few strategies to
resolve the issue:
a. Identify and Kill the Blocking Session
If a session is causing a blockage and is not critical, you can terminate it.
1. Find the Session ID: From the methods above, identify the session
causing the block.
2. Kill the Blocking Session:
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KILL <BlockingSessionID>;
This command will terminate the blocking session, allowing the blocked
session to proceed. Be cautious when doing this, as it can lead to the loss
of uncommitted transactions.
b. Use WITH (NOLOCK) for Non-blocking Queries
If the query doesn’t require data consistency and can tolerate dirty reads,
use the WITH (NOLOCK) table hint. This allows the query to read
uncommitted data, reducing the possibility of blocking.
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SELECT * FROM my_table WITH (NOLOCK);
However, use this carefully, as it can lead to dirty reads and other issues.
c. Optimize Queries
Inefficient queries can lead to excessive locking. Consider the following
optimizations:
Use indexes: Ensure that queries are properly indexed, especially
on columns used in WHERE clauses, JOIN conditions, and ORDER BY
clauses.
Avoid unnecessary locking: Make sure your queries don’t hold
locks longer than necessary. Use appropriate transaction isolation
levels (e.g., READ COMMITTED vs. SERIALIZABLE).
Reduce transaction durations: Shorten the time that
transactions are open to reduce the likelihood of blocking.
d. Check and Adjust Transaction Isolation Levels
Blocking can be caused by high isolation levels, such as SERIALIZABLE,
which prevents other sessions from accessing locked resources.
You can use the following isolation levels to reduce locking:
READ COMMITTED (default): This allows reading committed data
and prevents dirty reads but can still cause blocking.
READ UNCOMMITTED: This allows dirty reads but eliminates
blocking, making it appropriate for certain read-heavy workloads.
SNAPSHOT: This provides a versioned view of the data and
prevents locking, but requires enabling the
ALLOW_SNAPSHOT_ISOLATION option.
Example of setting an isolation level in a query:
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SET TRANSACTION ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
-- Or for no locking at all (be cautious):
SET TRANSACTION ISOLATION LEVEL READ UNCOMMITTED;
e. Use WITH (ROWLOCK) to Reduce Locking
If a query is affecting too many rows, consider using ROWLOCK to ensure
that the smallest possible lock is applied.
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SELECT * FROM my_table WITH (ROWLOCK);
f. Use TABLOCKX for Exclusive Table Locking
In some cases, using an exclusive lock on a table might resolve blocking
issues if many operations need to work on the entire table without
interference.
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SELECT * FROM my_table WITH (TABLOCKX);
g. Ensure Proper Indexing and Partitioning
Large queries or updates may require locks on a large number of rows.
Proper indexing and table partitioning can help reduce the number of rows
locked and therefore reduce blocking.
h. Deadlock Prevention
Deadlocks occur when two or more sessions block each other in a cycle.
SQL Server can automatically detect and resolve deadlocks, but you can
take the following actions to prevent them:
Ensure that transactions acquire locks in the same order.
Keep transactions as short as possible.
Consider using ROWVERSION or TIMESTAMP columns for
optimistic concurrency control.
3. Automate Blocking Detection and Resolution
You can set up automated scripts or alerts in SQL Server to detect and
respond to blocking events. For example, use SQL Server Agent jobs to
check for blocking every few minutes and notify administrators or
automatically kill blocking sessions if necessary.
4. Review and Refine the Application Logic
Sometimes blocking is caused by application-level issues, such as poorly
written transaction logic or long-running queries. Review application logic
to ensure that transactions are being handled efficiently, and try to:
Batch large updates: Instead of performing large updates in a
single transaction, break them into smaller batches.
Handle transactions appropriately: Open transactions only
when necessary, and commit/rollback them as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Monitoring and resolving blocking in SQL Server is crucial for performance
and preventing disruptions in user activity. Regularly monitor for blocking,
identify the root cause, and take steps to optimize queries and transaction
handling. Adjust isolation levels, index strategies, and use the appropriate
locking hints to mitigate blocking issues in your system.
