What to Check When Your SSIS Package Hits the Maximum Error Count

Learn how to handle the SSIS warning code DTS_W_MAXIMUMERRORCOUNTREACHED by understanding the maximum error count, what to check, and adjustments to make for successful SSIS package execution.
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What to Check When Your SSIS Package Hits the Maximum Error Count

If you’ve been working with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) and have encountered the infamous warning code DTS_W_MAXIMUMERRORCOUNTREACHED, it's evident that your package has hit the maximum error count during execution. This common issue can bring your data integration tasks to a halt, but it's manageable with the right adjustments. Here's what you need to know:

Understanding the Warning Code

The SSIS warning code DTS_W_MAXIMUMERRORCOUNTREACHED indicates that the error threshold specified for the package has been met or exceeded. This causes the package to stop executing immediately.

By default, the maximum error count is set to 1, which means the package stops executing as soon as it encounters the first error. Depending on your data and process flow, hitting errors can be more frequent, requiring a review and potential adjustments.

What to Check

When this warning appears, several areas should be examined:

Error Details: Review the error messages and logs to determine what caused the errors. These details can provide insight into whether they are due to data issues, transformation errors, or connection problems.

Error Handlers: Verify if you have appropriate event handlers or error handling mechanisms in place. Event handlers can help capture errors and provide custom logic on how to handle them, such as retrying the task or logging additional information.

Data Quality: Validate the quality of the input data. Often, erroneous data can lead to multiple errors. Implementing data validation steps before processing can significantly reduce the error count.

Package Configuration: Check the configurations of your package:

MaxConcurrentExecutables: Adjusting this setting can help manage the number of concurrent tasks and reduce potential errors arising from resource contention.

FailPackageOnFailure: Ensure this property is set appropriately based on whether you want the package to stop or continue upon task failure.

Adjustments to Make

If the package continues to hit the maximum error count, consider these adjustments:

Increase Maximum Error Count: If minor, non-critical errors are expected, increasing the maximum error count can prevent the package from terminating prematurely. This can be done in the package properties by setting the MaximumErrorCount to a higher value.

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Replace X with an appropriate number based on your assessment.

Improve Error Handling Logic: Implement or enhance error handling logic through the use of event handlers. For instance, redirect rows causing errors to a different table for review and correction rather than allowing the package to fail.

Enhanced Logging: Enable detailed logging to capture comprehensive error information. This includes setting up logging providers that can write error messages to a file, SQL Server table, or other logging destinations.

Testing and Debugging: Perform thorough testing and debugging within your development environment to catch and handle errors before deploying the package to production.

Conclusion

Encountering the maximum error count in SSIS packages can disrupt your data processes, but understanding the warning and making the right configurations can enable your packages to execute smoothly. Start by reviewing the error details, enhancing error handling, and adjusting package settings as needed to avoid unnecessary disruptions. Remember, careful planning and proactive error management are key to successful SSIS operations.