Description

This wait occurs when a request is waiting to acquire an Intent Update lock with the low priority options added in SQL Server 2014. This style of locking typically happens when read and modify requests are blocked by write transactions (implicit of explicit) that have been kept open for extended periods of time. The low priority operations must not be set to abort blockers for this wait type to accumulate

Resolved by

DBAs and Developers

Suggested solutions

1. If possible, run low priority tasks outside regular business hours. Using abort blockers will cause interruption to users and could cause application issues
2. Keep transaction durations short
3. Ensure transactions isolation levels are appropriate (avoid SERIALIZEABLE and REPEATABLE READ if possible)
4. Investigate enabling the READ_COMMITTED_SNAPSHOT database setting
5. Run trace/Profiler/Extended Event session in conjunction with Blocked Process Threshold to determine which queries are being blocked
6. Indexing, ensure long running queries and transactions are optimised
7. Ensure locks being escalated correctly: row, page or table (if table is partitioned considered enabling partition escalation)

Additional research

Exploring Low Priority Lock Wait Options
Lock Modes
Reducing SQL Server Locks
Understanding Isolation Levels
Identify the Cause of SQL Server Blocking
Lock Escalations

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