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Description:
This wait type is when a thread is calling the Windows WriteFileGather function.
(Books Online description: N/A)
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Added in SQL Server version:
2008
Removed in SQL Server version:
N/A
Extended Events wait_type value:
The map_key value in sys.dm_xe_map_values is 466 in 2008 and 2008 R2, 514 in 2012, and 530 in 2014 RTM. After 2014 RTM, you must check the DMV to get the latest value as some map_key values have changed in later builds.
Other information:
This wait type occurs when a file is being zero-initialized. Log files and new portions of a log file are always zero initialized. Data files and new portions of a data file are only zero initialized if the Instant File Initialization feature is not enabled (see here). Long waits for this type may occur in either case, and you may also see message 5144 or 5145 in the error log (see KB 2091024) along with other lock or latch waits.
Note that when a thread calls out to Windows, the thread changes from non-preemptive (SQL Server controls the thread) to preemptive (Windows controls the thread) mode. The thread’s state will be listed as RUNNING, as SQL Server doesn’t know what Windows is doing with the thread.
Known occurrences in SQL Server (list number matches call stack list):
- Zeroing the log tail while starting up a database
- Zeroing a new portion of the log (in this case, while writing out log records)
And other similar call stacks.
Abbreviated call stacks (list number matches known occurrences list):
- SOS_Task::PopWait+b1
AutoSwitchPreemptive::~AutoSwitchPreemptive+95
InitializeFile+624
FCB::ZeroFile+393
SQLServerLogMgr::FixupLogTail+32e
SQLServerLogMgr::MakeLogRecordsPossible+92
SQLServerLogMgr::MakeLogWriteable+122
RecoveryMgr::PhysicalCompletion+231
RecoveryUnit::CompletePhysical+e9
RecoveryUnit::PhaseEnd+a6
StartupCoordinator::NotifyPhaseEnd+3b
DBTABLE::Startup+1167
DBMgr::StartupDB+6c6
DBMgr::StartDBsInParallel+511
DBMgr::ParallelDbStartupEntryPoint+10f
SOS_Task::Param::Execute+21e
SOS_Scheduler::RunTask+ab - SOS_Task::PopWait+b1
AutoSwitchPreemptive::~AutoSwitchPreemptive+95
InitializeFile+624
FCB::ZeroFile+393
FCB::InitializeSpace+293
FileMgr::InternalGrowFile+723
SQLServerLogMgr::GrowAFile+6eb
SQLServerLogMgr::ReserveAndAppend+292
XdesRMReadWrite::GenerateLogRec+615
PFSPageRef::ModifyPFSRow+5ed
DeAllocMgr::DeAllocatePageInternal+69b
DeAllocMgr::DropAllocUnitInternal+158b
DropAllocationUnit+18a
sort_clean+388
RowsetSorted::DeleteSort+1ce
CQScanSortNew::SortChangeState+81
CQScanSortNew::GetRowHelper+9a
CQScanSegmentNew::GetRow+43
CQScanSeqProjectNew::GetRow+20
CQScanStreamAggregateNew::GetRowHelper+1fc
CQScanStreamAggregateNew::GetCalculatedRow+21
CQueryScan::StartupQuery+23c