KB423469: "Communication link failure," error is seen when running MicroStrategy against Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or 2005 running on a Windows 2003 Server

 
SYMPTOM:
Running Strategy against Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or 2005 (either metadata or warehouse connection) running on a Windows Server 2003 machine may result in one of the following errors. The errors can also be seen while creating a new project on the metadata residing on such a database.
Sample Code/Error

Set transaction isolation level failed. Query time-out.
Error type: Odbc error. Odbc operation attempted: SQLSetConnectOption. Option: SQL_ATTR_TXN_ISOLATION. Timeout Expired.
Execute Query failed. Disconnected.
Error type: Odbc error. Odbc operation attempted: SQLExecDirect. Communication link failure
Database error <>: Execute Query failed. Disconnected.
Error type: Odbc error. Odbc operation attempted: SQLExecDirect. Communication link failure

CAUSE:
This is a problem specific to Microsoft Windows Server 2003. The problem occurs because the TCP Chimney Offload feature is enabled on the Windows Server 2003 Scalable Networking Pack.
Note: The issue applies to the following versions of Microsoft SQL Server:

• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (Standard Edition,  Workgroup Edition, Developer Edition and Enterprise Edition)
• Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (Personal Edition, Standard Edition, Workgroup Edition, Enterprise Edition)

ACTION:
To resolve this problem, the hardware must be updated with the following updates:

1. The latest basic input/output system (BIOS) update for the server
2. The latest firmware update for the network adapter
3. The latest driver update for the network adapter

For additional details on this issue, refer to the following Microsoft Knowledge Base document below:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942861 
KB423469