Share via

stsadm restore fails with error: The site collection could not be restored. If this problem persists please make sure the content databases are available and have sufficient free space.

  • Article

This issue may occur because of any of the following reasons:

  • If the computer that is running Windows SharePoint Services has insufficient free disk space that is available to host the restored Windows SharePoint Services Web site. This issue may also occur if the Windows SharePoint Services database has reached its maximum allowed size.

https://support.microsoft.com/kb/926061

  • There is some issue with network or the Network Interface Cards(NIC) are not operating at same bandwidth on the SQL Server and the SharePoint Server. In this case there is possibility of timeout happening.
  • TCP Chimney is enabled on the SQL Server and the SharePoint Server.
  • A SQL query timeout is happening.

You can try to resolve this issue by following the steps given below:

  • Disable TCP Chimney on the SQL Server and the SharePoint Server and reboot the servers.
  • Check the event viewer on the SharePoint Server where you are trying the restore from and see if you see event id stating there was a long running SQL query(xxxx seconds) which was cancelled because it exceeded the threshold of xxxx seconds. If you see the event id then on the SQL Server disable the query governor that prevents long-running queries and set remote query timeout to 0(which means no timeout).

i.e. Go to “SQL Server Properties->Connections” and uncheck “Use query governor to prevent long-running queries”. Also, set “Remote query timeout” to 0.

  • Verify that NIC on the SQL Server and the SharePoint Server are operating at same bandwidth and updated the NIC drivers.
  • Verify that the SQL Server Drive that is hosting the DBs(Content DB and Temp DB) has adequate free space, 2 to 4 times the backup size(this is an approx figure). Also, the SharePoint Server from where the restore is done should have adequate free space, 2 times(this is an approx figure) the backup size.

NOTE: Always note the modifications that you make, so that if necessary they can be reverted.

THIS POST APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
  • Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0