DataAdapter.fill(dataset) timeout exception on a specific database

Question

In a VB.NET application (VS2005) I am calling a stored procedure through a SQLDataAdapter. On my local database everything works fine. If I do this on another database I get a timeout exception. this is the code :

  Public Overloads Shared Function ExecuteDataset( _
                                                    ByVal connection As SqlConnection, _
                                                    ByVal commandType As CommandType, _
                                                    ByVal commandText As String, _
                                                    ByVal ParamArray commandParameters() As SqlParameter) As DataSet
        If (connection Is Nothing) Then Throw New ArgumentNullException("connection")
        ' Create a command and prepare it for execution
        Dim cmd As New SqlCommand
        Dim ds As New DataSet
        Dim dataAdatpter As SqlDataAdapter
        Dim mustCloseConnection As Boolean = False

        dataAdatpter = Nothing

        PrepareCommand(cmd, connection, CType(Nothing, SqlTransaction), commandType, commandText, commandParameters, mustCloseConnection)
        cmd.CommandTimeout = 0 'I get a timeout exception if I leave this out
        Try
            ' Create the DataAdapter & DataSet
            dataAdatpter = New SqlDataAdapter(cmd)

            ' Fill the DataSet using default values for DataTable names, etc
            dataAdatpter.Fill(ds)

            ' Detach the SqlParameters from the command object, so they can be used again
            cmd.Parameters.Clear()
        Finally
            If (Not dataAdatpter Is Nothing) Then dataAdatpter.Dispose()
        End Try
        If (mustCloseConnection) Then connection.Close()

        ' Return the dataset
        Return ds
    End Function ' ExecuteDataset

I've executed the stored procedure directly on the database and that works fine and fast. I've also tried to set the CommandTimeout property of cmd to 0. When I do this the stored procedure gets executed but this takes a very long time. Again if I work on a local db there are no problems.

Here is the stacktrace of the timeout exception

at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.ThrowExceptionAndWarning(TdsParserStateObject stateObj)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.Run(RunBehavior runBehavior, SqlCommand cmdHandler, SqlDataReader dataStream, BulkCopySimpleResultSet bulkCopyHandler, TdsParserStateObject stateObj)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlDataReader.ConsumeMetaData()
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlDataReader.get_MetaData()
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.FinishExecuteReader(SqlDataReader ds, RunBehavior runBehavior, String resetOptionsString)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.RunExecuteReaderTds(CommandBehavior cmdBehavior, RunBehavior runBehavior, Boolean returnStream, Boolean async)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.RunExecuteReader(CommandBehavior cmdBehavior, RunBehavior runBehavior, Boolean returnStream, String method, DbAsyncResult result)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.RunExecuteReader(CommandBehavior cmdBehavior, RunBehavior runBehavior, Boolean returnStream, String method)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior behavior, String method)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand.ExecuteDbDataReader(CommandBehavior behavior)
   at System.Data.Common.DbCommand.System.Data.IDbCommand.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior behavior)
   at System.Data.Common.DbDataAdapter.FillInternal(DataSet dataset, DataTable[] datatables, Int32 startRecord, Int32 maxRecords, String srcTable, IDbCommand command, CommandBehavior behavior)
   at System.Data.Common.DbDataAdapter.Fill(DataSet dataSet, Int32 startRecord, Int32 maxRecords, String srcTable, IDbCommand command, CommandBehavior behavior)
   at System.Data.Common.DbDataAdapter.Fill(DataSet dataSet)
   at KlantenApplicatie.BL.DAL.SQLHelper.ExecuteDataset(SqlConnection connection, CommandType commandType, String commandText, SqlParameter[] commandParameters) in C:\BitProjects\teamsystem\gerher\KlantenApplicatie.BL.DAL\sqlHelper\SQLHelper.vb:line 545

Any ideas on what might be the cause of this?

Solution

I've found a solution.

It turned out to be a parameter sniffing problem for query optimalisation. I needed to add OPTION(RECOMPILE) to the sql that creates the stored procedure.

the issue is explained here:

http://www.sqlmag.com/article/sql-server/-using-the-recompile-query-hint-to-solve-parameter-sniffing-problems-94369

And here:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqldatabaseengine/thread/74a85e26-be9b-4830-9638-6aa30fd9e3e7