Robert Smit MVP Blog   Azure and Microsoft Windows Insider Server Cloud Blog

The DTC option is a simple feature just turn it on and it works eh yeh sometimes. but in advanced environments you need often some tweaks and how to’s

The following errors are common on misconfiguration on the SQL Cluster / MSDTC source

MSDTC encountered an error (HR=0x80000171)  Or if you are using linked SQL servers If the MSDTC is not working most of them solve the error with code, actually it is a misconfiguration of the MSDTC How to solve this error ?

OLE DB provider "SQLNCLI10" for linked server "SQL instance name" returned message "Cannot start more transactions on this session.".

Unable to start a nested transaction for OLE DB provider "SQLNCLI10" for linked server "SQL instance name". A nested transaction was required because the XACT_ABORT option was set to OFF.

Or error 7391

Well here is a little tip on how to solve this.

Typical MSDTC cluster resource , But in the resource kit there is a little tool that is named SUBINACL

SubInACL is a command-line tool that enables administrators to obtain security information about files, registry keys, and services, and transfer this information from user to user, from local or global group to group, and from domain to domain. For example, if a user has moved from one domain (DomainA) to another (DomainB), the administrator can replace DomainA\User with DomainB\User in the security information for the user’s files. This gives the user access to the same files from the new domain.
SubInACL enables administrators to do the following:

• Display security information associated with files, registry keys, or services. This information includes owner, group, permission access control list (ACL), discretionary ACL (DACL), and system ACL (SACL).
• Change the owner of an object.
• Replace the security information for one identifier (account, group, well-known security identifier (SID)) with that of another identifier.
• Migrate security information about objects. This is useful if you have reorganized a network’s domains and need to migrate the security information for files from one domain to another.

This update addresses the following issues:

• Fixed bug where subinacl.exe failed to process command line arguments
• Fixed bug where subinacl.exe failed to function correctly with cluster file shares

So now that we have the tool let us use this filling in the following command

subinacl /service msdtc /grand=”network services”=qsetil

Access denied ! , I am an Admin the CMD is a Admin why the syntax is correct .

Yes all above is ok except the MSDTC part it is a clusterd so you need to use the cluster part.

Ok and now with the Clustered DTC  

Ok done now the error below is gone.

OLE DB provider "SQLNCLI10" for linked server "SQL instance name" returned message "Cannot start more transactions on this session.".

Unable to start a nested transaction for OLE DB provider "SQLNCLI10" for linked server "SQL instance name". A nested transaction was required because the XACT_ABORT option was set to OFF.

Msg 7395, Level 16, State 2, Line 3

But what about the XACT_ABORT option was set to OFF and the error 7391 ?

Yes easy to solve turn it on.

• Start the Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC or MSDTC) on all servers that are involved in the distributed transaction.
• Issue this statement before you run your query:
  SET XACT_ABORT ON

  1	SET XACT_ABORT ON

  The XACT_ABORT option must be set to ON for data modification statements in an implicit or explicit transaction against most OLE DB providers, including SQL Server. This option is not required if the provider supports nested transactions.

• Check whether any of the servers are on a cluster. The DTC on the cluster must have its own IP address. You must verify proper name resolution of the DTC service on each server. The IP address of the DTC must be defined in your name resolution system (such as WINS, DNS or LMHosts). Verify that each server can communicate with the other’s MSDTC by name, not just by IP address. Check in both directions. For example, check from server A to server B’s MSDTC, and then check from server B to server A’s MSDTC. You must resolve all name resolution problems on the network before you run your distributed query.

Below is a little example of how to test your transactions just change your servername [SQL instance name].

BEGIN TRAN

UPDATE [SQL instance name].test_DTC.dbo.Table1

SET Field1 = ‘MSDTC is a pain if it is not working but now it is working like a charm’

Where Field1 = ‘Second';

COMMIT TRAN

SET XACT_ABORT OFF

SET XACT_ABORT ON

Select * from [SQL instance name].test_DTC.dbo.Table1