SQL Anywhere Network Server - maxes out disk drive

I am having a very similar problem to this one. 

Some time last year after an upgrade we began to have long hangs in our Quickbooks Enterprise Desktop. We are now running the latest version of 19 and it still happens quite regularly. 

We see the QuickBooksDB29 process (nested under the SQL Anywhere Network Server) max out a single processor core whenever this happens. While this occurs, QuickBooks becomes unresponsive for the entire staff. 

We are running a multi-core 2.6 GHz Intel Processor with 16GB of RAM with the file hosted on a new SSD. 

Is there someone we could reach out to regarding this? We've done everything we can to solve the issue, including moving to another server, reinstalling quickbooks, etc., but the problem seems to follow the company file wherever it goes.

Hello there, cdolsonnd.

I appreciate you for joining this thread and sharing your experience with QuickBooks having long hangs.

If you have already done all the troubleshooting steps provided by my colleague @VivienJ and still having the same issue, I recommend you get in touch with our QuickBooks Desktop Support​. They have the tools to properly investigate this issue so they can come up with a permanent fix.

Stay in touch with me and let me know how it works on your end. I'm always here to help.

I've been struggling with this issue for MONTHS (maybe years) now with my Enterprise edition of Quickbooks.  (Why on earth I ever bought into the BS that Enterprise would make Quickbooks faster ...  what a sucker I was.  Biggest rip off EVER and there's no going back so I just pay the thousand dollar tax every year for nothing.)

Last time I called the 800 number for Enterprise support, I was told to F*** O** and call Microsoft.  Call Microsoft?!??!??  Really?!?!???!?

By the time I notice the second SQL running, it's because the processor is already chasing it's own tail and my battery is already drained.  Working off batter on my PC with Quickbooks is an absurd insinuation.  Intuit:  What else can you guys do to amaze me?!?!?!?  What's next??@?!???!

Hi, landscape1.

Allow me to help and provide you some insights about the SQL Anywhere Network Server issue in QuickBooks Desktop.

Accessing a SQL Anywhere server using a database file that is located other than on the machine where the server is running is possible, but not in all situations. The following lists some of the architectures you may be considering for use with your SQL Anywhere database.

There are two main requirements for vendors of SAN/NAS hardware/software which determine whether or not SQL Anywhere will function properly:

1. The order of file writes is guaranteed. This means that if the server says write A, then write B, the SAN/NAS guarantees that A is written to the physical medium before B. Additionally, on Windows, Microsoft guarantees that a call to SetEndOfFile(...) followed by FlushFileBuffers(...) is sufficient to force the file metadata to the physical medium. We require those same semantics to be respected by a SAN/NAS. 
2. When a writen request is issued in this environment, the write has actually been completed to the physical medium (not buffered by the operating system or the drive's internal cache) when the SAN/NAS returns from the right call. This is generally true if point 1) above is enforced.

I can pass along all the issue you have to the appropriate channels so you're able to reach a point of resolution as quickly as possible.

I know you've already called in. However, I still suggest getting in touch with our QuickBooks Desktop Support to have this re-investigated. Our phone support has the appropriate looks, like screen sharing, and they can take a better look at this.

1. Within your QuickBooks Desktop, click Help at the top menu bar.
2. Click Contact us.
3. To route you to the correct support expert, we need to know what type of question you have. Give a brief description of your issue and click Continue.
4. We’ll provide you a few options. You choose which one is best for you

You may find this article helpful: QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise System Requirements.

Feel free to hit Reply below if you have additional questions about the SQL Anywhere Network issue in QuickBooks Desktop. I'll be around to help.

Were you able to resolve your issue with Support?  I'm having the same problem and have called Support at least 3-4 times about our performance issues.

Going through multiple troubleshooting steps and not having any of them work can be a real pain, AFeist.

We appreciate the time and effort you've spent with one of our technical support agents to get the SQL Anywhere Network Server sorted out. To know the update of this issue, I'd suggest contacting our Technical Support Team again (with your case or reference number). They'll also check further on what they can do.

Here's how to reach them:

1. Click Help on the top menu.
2. Choose QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. Enter your concern in the Search field.
4. Tick the Search icon. 
5. Tap the Contact Us link.
6. Choose Get a callback to connect with us.

We have a link here where you can find articles on how to fix different QuickBooks errors: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/troubleshooting-issues-and-errors/errors/08?produc....

Keep me posted if you need anything else in QuickBooks Desktop. I'm always here to help.

Has anyone been given a solution to this problem?  I've spent hours for the last couple weeks with QB support and still no resolution.   I'm really getting concerned that there is no solution.

Hi RoseMarjorieA,

Thanks for the detail info (two main requirements), but do you know how to resolve this issue?  Or what is causing it?  This has been going on now for months and I need to get this resolved.  Do you have ideas to troubleshoot?

Does anyone have any ideas?  And please don't say call support.  I've called 5-6 times, been escalated twice, and no one on that team knows the level of this issue.

Please contact me a [email address removed]

Make sure that every user has their Reports And Graphs preferences set to 'Don't Refresh'. This was the primary cause of our problems. We had users with many report windows open in the backgrounds of their instances and as more users logged in throughout the day their reports would all simultaneously attempt refreshing automatically every time a transaction was posted. 

Hi, @AFeist.

To receive the best answer to your question, I recommend reaching out to an Information Technology (IT) professional. They'll be able to give you the best advice on what to do based on your issue.

I also suggest looking into this link about SQL Anywhere Personal Server (QBDBMgr.exe).

I want to make sure your concerns are addressed, so let me know if you have any other questions. Have a great rest of your week!

Set QB up to run as Portable Copy.  After many calls and hours on the phone with QB, that is what solved the issue.  Running as Portable Copy kept SQL Anywhere Server from attaching itself to the QB program.

Run QB as a Portable Copy.  That is the only way to keep SQL Anywhere Server from attaching itself to QB.   After many calls and many hours on the phone with very nice and patient QB Service people, this worked.

Are you using as a multi user or single user? 

Thanks

I have called tech support multiple times on this issue and, because the SQL issue is never running at the time I call in, they cannot test or resolve the issue.

We now have a new server. We just created a new company file, and we have a new installation of QB Premier 2018 - yet the same problem of SQL Anywhere network server slowing down the server is an issue.

It is very easy for the support techs on this forum to say call in and we have the tools to fix this, but the reality is. The low-level tech support that answers the phone DO NOT have the tools or ability to fix the issue unless it is actually happening when you call in.

A better suggestion would be to have Techs that are dedicated to fixing just this issue. Then, when we call in with the SQL Network Server problem, forward us to that department.

Cant reach quickbooks!  no one answers. 

2 issues. 

QB desktop screeching halt , so slow it cant send email invoices

 payroll refuses to  update.  auto update is on.  everything  downloaded and installed, QB re-started and still I get the message payroll out of date.  No one answers at QB customer service due to covid-19

Having the same issue.  this is 2020 enterprise

my post.

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/install/re-runaway-sql-anywhere-process-qb-enterpr...

Hi Vivien,

Are you still working on the Quickbooks Team?

I'm having issues opening company files in Quickbooks Pro 2018 & 2020 versions, on my computer.  The company QBW files are located on a separate server.

Everything was working fine until about 2-3 weeks ago.  Now it takes forever to open a company file, and once open, all operations are too slow to keep the company file open.

Other computers in my office access the same company QBW files from the same server and do not have any issues.

While my computer is trying to open a QBW file, I see intermittent lines in the Task Manager under Quickbooks that show "SQL Anywhere Network Server (32 bit)" and also "SQL Anywhere Personal Server (32 bit)" with leading Lightening Bolts in from of the words.  I suspect that is identifying the hang up, but I haven't been able to resolve the problem yet.  I've spoken to Intuit Support and they went through several operations, but to no avail yet.  They - Uninstalled and reinstalled Quickbooks Pro 2020; Ran the Quickbook Doctor and Quickbooks Tools apps.

I need someone at Intuit & Quickbooks who knows how to fix this problem.  My business is suffering!!

Thanks

Thanks for updating this thread, @tftaylorcpa,

I want to make sure this QuickBooks issue is resolved, so we need to forward you to the right department to help you with this. I know you already contacted our support for this, but we're unable to assist technical and account management issues here in the community.

Our Technical Support Team can better help you, and you can request them to get this escalated to our Data Services Department. They have the tools necessary to check your company file problems and provide relevant troubleshooting to rule out the problem. 

To get our support, follow the steps below:

1. Open QuickBooks and click the Help menu.
2. Select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. On the pop-up screen select Contact us.
   
4. Click the Search for Something else button then type your concern in the Ask us anything box.
5. Hit Search then scroll down to get your contact options.

Refer to this article to learn more about our contact options and support availability: Contact QuickBooks Desktop support

Kindly update me on the results in the comment. I want to ensure everything is working well for you, and I'm here to provide further assistance and insights. Have a great day!

Thanks for the reply.  Quickbooks Support has a Case number that it assigned last week that I will refer to when I get in touch with support again tomorrow (hopefully).

I took a photo of the Resources "SQL ANYWHERE PERSONAL SERVER (32 BIT)  was using on my workstation. but was a few seconds too late to catch the time the CPU usage was at 80% and Memory usage was in the 800 MB range!!!  By the time I took the photo, it dropped to what you see. Then within 5 seconds of this photo the process disappeared from the task manager....  entirely... as if it never existed.

Quickbooks knows something about this but is apparently unwilling to deal with the issue. This photo was on my Dell AIO with I-5 processor, 1 TB drive and 64 GB memory, latest version of Win 10 And QB, the main file for QB is on a Dell Server, with Xeon Processor, 64 GB memory and raid 10 drive setup purchased in May 2021 and still practically shuts down my computer when this process runs and we can hear the fans in the server go to full speed. Intuit has an issue but seems unwilling to deal with it. I can't imagine they are too stupid to figure this out, so the reasons for the issue must be due to them not wanting to fix the issue. 

Before I took the photo the CPU was maxed out at 80% and memory used was in the 800 MB range. By the time I could get my phone off my hip, sort the task manager by memory used and take the photo of the screen, the CPU usage dropped to 2.4% from 80% CPU usage.  Then, the process disappeared from the task manager lists. Before that point, my computer mouse was doing the "Circles" thing which hangs up the computer from doing one darn other thing. This is an obvious issue Quickbooks knows exists yet doesn't seem to want to deal with the issue and has been effecting our computer usage since day one of using Quickbooks enterprise edition.  Quickbooks needs to fix the issue before the class action lawsuits begin.  

I have QB Premeire 2017 Desktop and have a problem with SQL Anywhere Network Server and other QB programs running that causes my desktop to freeze up.  I've contacted support by Chat and was dropped after 3 hours of waiting.  I contacted Support again, this time asking for a call back.  The support person had no clue as to what I was trying to explain and only offered to email me an article to fix the problem myself.  It's been an hour and I still don't have an email.

What am I supposed to do now?

Thanks for joining this thread, @Terryr1. I'll share some troubleshooting steps to help you isolate the issue with your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT).

We can run the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool (QBInstall Tool). This will help us identify any component issues related to your QuickBooks Desktop. Here's how:

1. Download the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool.
2. When prompted, save the file to the local Desktop.
3. Close any open programs and run the QBInstall Tool. Note: It may take up to 20 minutes to complete, depending on your internet speed and the computer's performance.
4. Restart the computer after running the tool to make sure the components are properly updated.

If the issue persists, you can follow other troubleshooting steps in this article: QuickBooks Desktop won't open, has stopped working, or not responding.

I'd also suggest reaching out to our QBDT Support Team. I understand you've already reached out to them. However, it would be best to contact them again. They have the tools to look into your account and check what caused this issue and can verify when you'll receive the email. 

Please let me know how it goes by leaving a comment down below or clicking the Reply button. I'll be around if you need further assistance.

Every single time we try to contact QuickBooks supporters, we always reach out very low level support agent, such as Tier 1 or Tier 2 at max. With all my respect, all they try to do is running QuickBooks ToolHub, QuickBooks File Doctor, Database Server Manager. Once they all done and issue doesn't solve, they blame the server, the network, and they tell me that I "need  to consult Microsoft". It's QuickBooks designation, it's QuickBooks behavior. Do you guys really want to support and help your clients?