Question
Answer and Explanation
MS SQL Server message 313, specifically related to Change Data Capture (CDC), indicates an issue with the metadata of a captured table. The full message typically looks something like:
Msg 313, Level 16, State 3, Procedure sp_cdc_enable_table, Line 170 [Batch Start Line 15] An insufficient number of entries were found in the change table for table 'YourTable'. Change data capture cannot continue. Run sp_cdc_scan for the database.
This error message implies that the necessary metadata for tracking changes on a specific table is either missing or corrupted. It's specifically triggered when CDC processes are unable to find the expected entries in the change table that store the tracked changes.
Here's a breakdown of what this means:
Key Components of the Error:
- Msg 313: This is the specific error number in MS SQL Server error logging system.
- Level 16: This indicates that the error is related to a general issue that does not affect the operation of the server, but may hinder the application's process.
- State 3: The error state helps pinpoint where in the error handling code the problem was detected.
- Procedure sp_cdc_enable_table: This identifies the stored procedure that triggered the error. sp_cdc_enable_table is used to enable change data capture on a given table, which means that the issue may arise during the setup or initial configuration phase.
- Change data capture cannot continue: This indicates that CDC is unable to proceed because necessary entries are missing or corrupted.
- 'YourTable': This is a placeholder for the specific table name that is causing the error.
Common Causes:
1. Incomplete CDC Setup: If the CDC setup was interrupted or not properly completed for a given table, it might lack the necessary entries in the change tracking table.
2. Metadata Corruption: In rare instances, the CDC metadata tables could be corrupted due to disk or other system issues.
3. Manual Intervention: Altering the underlying CDC tables or modifying tracked data directly without using the appropriate CDC functions can lead to inconsistencies and trigger this error.
4. Issue with the Capture Job: The capture job responsible for populating the change tables may be failing or experiencing delays, leading to missing entries.
How to Resolve It:
1. Run sp_cdc_scan: The error message itself suggests this. Executing sp_cdc_scan against the database can help synchronize the metadata with the change tables. This attempts to recover the missing entries.
2. Verify the Capture Job: Ensure the CDC capture job is running and does not have any errors. Review the SQL Server agent job history for potential failures.
3. Re-enable CDC: In severe cases, you might have to disable CDC on the affected table using sp_cdc_disable_table and then re-enable it using sp_cdc_enable_table.
4. Check for Corruption: Investigate the possibility of file or disk corruption issues.
By addressing these potential causes and performing the corrective measures, you should resolve MS SQL message 313 related to Change Data Capture and restore the normal operations of the change tracking process.