SQL Server Error 8910 Internals

SQL error 8910 is associated with IAM (Index Allocation Map) pages that work towards tracking the extents that are being used by index or heap. At least one IAM page is allocated to index or heap table for each file in SQL Server database.

Extent is the fundamental unit that manages the space in SQL Server platform. An extent comprises of 8 pages; where a single page is 8 KB in volume. Therefore, as a whole, an extent is 64 KB in size comprises of 8 physically adjacent pages.

SQL error code 8910 occurs when two indexes are allocated with the same page or when same page is been entered twice in IAM page array. The error message appears similar to the following:

"Page P_ID in database ID DB_ID is allocated to both object ID O_ID1, index ID I_ID1, and object ID O_ID2, index ID I_ID2."

Workaround Methods to Remove Error Message

Several workaround methods might help resolving this issue. These measures are:

• Check Error Logs: Examine Microsoft Windows Application logs and SQL Server Error logs to check what causes this error. If the error message took place as a result of failure of any hardware component, appropriate actions must be implemented accordingly. Operating System re-installation as well as reformatting hard disk might help rectifying SQL Server error 8910.
• Backup Restoration: In any sort of SQL database failure, data components can be restored back from the available clean backup. Here, if healthy backup is available, the affected components of the database can be recovered and restored from the most recent BAK files. To be able to recover data under such circumstances, each DBA must emphasize on SQL DB maintenance that includes:
• Schedule Backup task on regular intervals.
• Backup transaction logs on regular basis.
• Plan backup as well as recovery strategy.
• Inspect and handle database access permissions.
• DBCC CHECKDB: When the tested recovery methods fail to deliver the expected output, another procedure of DBCC execution can be performed. There is a series of steps that has to be followed to run the Database Console Commands.
• Know the extent of corruption in database objects by executing DBCC without any repair clause.
• Wait, till the running command returns a repair clause that has to be executed further.
• When the CHECKDB recommends a clause, run that repair clause along with DBCC CHECKDB for rectification.

This way, it may help in getting access to the lost data or consecutively there are chances that this might turns into data loss.

Avoid Typical Data Loss Situations

There are several practices that can be considered as precautionary measures to avoid data loss that may takes place due to occurrence of SQL Error 8910.

• The integrity standards of the available BAK files must be examined to ensure whether these files will help in restoring backup in event of database failure or related situations.
• Regulate appropriate access authorization rights to the users for accessing production database. This will help implementing access control and avoiding unnecessary interventions.
• In addition, it is always recommended to backup database on regular intervals of time to avoid data loss and any unfavorable circumstances.

There are numbers of errors the DBAs deals with while executing any operation or queries in SQL Server database. The intensity of the error messages decides what effect they will put on the production database as well as the user databases. Though it is quite difficult to avoid these errors but with little more efforts, the data loss that occurs as a repercussion of these errors can be avoided.

Apparent & Feasible Database Recovery Technique

Data recovery is an enormous task that involves implementing troublesome manual procedures. But all the manual workaround techniques and associated difficulties can be avoided by simply employing SQL database recovery. It recovers data from corrupted MDF as well as NDF files and restores it back in SQL Server database (various versions supported) and SQL Server Compatible Scripts.