Connecting to SQL Server very slow.

Question

I have a standard php app that uses SQL Server as the back-end database. There is a serious delay in response for each page I access. This is my development server, so its not an issue with the live setup, but it is really annoying for working on the system.

I have a 5 - 8 second delay on each page.

• I am running SqlServer 2000 Developer Edition on a Virtual Machine (Virtual PC).
• I have installed SqlServer on my development machine but get the same delay.

• I have isolated the issue to the call to mssql_connect (calling mssql_pconnect has no effect)

• It is a networking issue on how I have set up (or not set up, since I didn't really change default config) SQL server. It's not a strictly a programming issue but I thought I might get some valuable feedback here.

Can anyone tell me if there is a trick, specific set of protocols, registry setting, something that will kill this delay?

Answer 1

Hi,

I came across network issues when running virtual pc, everything network related is slow, try adding this entry on your registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters

• Create new DWORD value named DisableTaskOffload and set its value to 1.

• Restart the computer.

It worked for me, source.

Answer 2

Is it perhaps a DNS issue? I know that MySQL does a reverse DNS lookup on each login (not each connection). If you don't have a reverse dns record for your server (or your dns is slow) it can cause a major delay at login. There's an option in MySQL to disable that. I'm not sure about SQL Server, but I'd assume it may be doing something similar...

Answer 3

I remember the same problem, but forgot, how we have solve it.

To clarify please specify exact connect strings, your SQLserver versions and also try to start this old good utility c:\WINDOWS\system32\cliconfg.exe, which is also can bring some light.

Yes, I know, it's from 2k, but guys at m$ don't like to create client tools from scratch.

Also try to get "right" mssql client dlls for PHP.