Empower buffered sample set is not recovering, shows "File SampSetxxxx .dat is corrupt" in recover logs - WKB117675

SYMPTOMS

• After buffering, sample set fails to recover and shows "File SampSetxxx .dat is corrupt" in Recover log.
• Recover log shows :
  • Begin Recover Sweep
  • File SampSetxxxx.dat is corrupt
  • Failed to recover Sample Set from file C:\Empower\InstrumentServer\xxx\xxxx\xxxx\SampSetxxxx.dat
  •  End Recover Sweep

ENVIRONMENT

• Empower 3 FR5

  Empower 3 SR5

  Empower 3 SR4

  Empower 3 SR3 HF1

  Empower 3 SR3

CAUSE

CRI-2277 has been raised

The root cause of this issue is a defect in the buffering and recovery logic that creates a potential timing issue with sample set buffering that may occur when After-Injection Recovery is enabled and Empower's connection to the database server is unstable during an acquisition. The timing issue that results in a corrupted sample set .dat file occurs when:

1. The database connection is lost prior to an injection, causing the INJECTION record to buffer in the sample set .dat file when the injection starts.
2. The database connection is restored prior to the injection completing and the recovery sweep interval has expired during the injection.
3. After-Injection Recovery runs and recovers the buffered INJECTION record.
4. The database connection is lost again.
5. At least one of INJ_STATUS / INJ_POST_RUN_REPORT / INJ_ECORD records are buffered.

FIX or WORKAROUND

This issue is fixed in Empower 3 FR5 HF1, Empower versions 3.6.1 & FR5 SR5 HF2. Link to Release notes as below

• Empower 3 Feature Release 5 HF1
• Empower 3.6.1 Release Notes | Waters
• Empower 3 Service Release 5 Hotfix 2 Release Notes | Waters
• Empower 3 Service Release 3 Hotfix 2, Release Notes (waters.com)

Workaround is for customers running Empower 3 FR5 or later.

• Disable After-Injection Recovery on acquisition nodes by selecting After Sample Set Recovery from the Node Properties - See WKB107689
• Note that this workaround will prevent the sample set .dat file from being corrupted in this manner, but it does not make it possible to recover a .dat file that has already been corrupted.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION