How To Fix DB6118 - Too many lock escalations occur in the system

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: DB6 - DB6: Alert Monitoring and Alert Configuration

• Message number: 118

• Message text: Too many lock escalations occur in the system

What causes this issue?

As a transaction is accessing too many records of a table to make
changes, the system has locked the whole table. Other transactions can
no longer access any of the records in the table to make changes.

System Response

The table-wide lock obstructs other running transactions and should
generally be avoided.

How to fix this error?

Increase the size of the memory area available to applications to store
locks using the database parameters LOCKLIST and MAXLOCK.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message DB6118 - Too many lock escalations occur in the system ?

  The SAP error message DB6118, which indicates "Too many lock escalations occur in the system," typically arises when the database system is experiencing a high number of lock escalations. Lock escalation occurs when a database system converts many row-level locks into a table-level lock to reduce the overhead of managing numerous locks. This can lead to performance issues and contention for resources.
  Causes:
  
  High Concurrency: A large number of transactions trying to access the same data simultaneously can lead to many row-level locks, prompting the database to escalate to table-level locks.
  Long-Running Transactions: Transactions that hold locks for an extended period can increase the likelihood of lock escalations.
  Insufficient Lock Management: The database configuration may not be optimized for the workload, leading to excessive lock escalations.
  Inefficient Queries: Poorly designed queries that access a large number of rows can contribute to lock contention.
  Database Configuration: The database parameters related to locking and memory management may not be set appropriately.
  
  Solutions:
  
  Analyze and Optimize Queries: Review and optimize SQL queries to ensure they are efficient and do not lock more rows than necessary.
  Reduce Transaction Scope: Break long-running transactions into smaller units of work to minimize the duration of locks held.
  Increase Lock Resources: Adjust database parameters to allow for more locks before escalation occurs. This may involve increasing memory allocation for lock management.
  Monitor Locking Behavior: Use database monitoring tools to analyze locking behavior and identify problematic transactions or queries.
  Adjust Isolation Levels: Consider using a different transaction isolation level that may reduce locking contention, such as READ COMMITTED or READ UNCOMMITTED, if appropriate for your application.
  Database Configuration Tuning: Review and tune database configuration settings related to locking and memory management to better handle the workload.
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any specific recommendations or patches related to this error message. SAP frequently updates its knowledge base with solutions for common issues.
  Database Documentation: Refer to the documentation for your specific database (e.g., Oracle, SQL Server, HANA) for best practices on managing locks and tuning performance.
  Performance Monitoring Tools: Utilize SAP's performance monitoring tools (like ST03N, ST04) to analyze system performance and locking issues.
  Consult with Database Administrators: Work closely with your database administrators to understand the underlying database behavior and to implement the necessary changes.
  
  By addressing the underlying causes and implementing the suggested solutions, you can reduce the occurrence of lock escalations and improve overall system performance.