ef6: Long running Code First Migration throws RemotingException: "Object has been disconnected from the server"

The issue is that the ToolLogger lease lifetime (base class MigrationsLogger is a MarshalByRefObject) is at the default (5 minutes). The ToolingFacade creates the logger, which lives in the main program’s app domain. The migrations run in a different app domain. If a migration takes longer than 5 minutes, the attempt to log any further information results in this error. A solution would be to increase the lease lifetime in the main program. So… in the main program, prior to creating the ToolingFacade, set the lease lifetime to a longer time period:

using System.Runtime.Remoting.Lifetime; … LifetimeServices.LeaseTime = TimeSpan.FromHours(1);

Migrations in this case can then take as long as 1 hour before this issue presents itself.

Spent half a day trying different fixes for this. I tried adding the config below to config file of ef6.exe.config, app.config of --config arg, and to the machine.config - it simply doesn’t read these settings.

 <system.runtime.remoting>
    <application>
      <lifetime leaseTime = "10M" sponsorshipTimeOut = "10M" renewOnCallTime = "15M" LeaseManagePollTime = "8s" />
    </application>
 </system.runtime.remoting>

The only solution is to download the source code of ef6 (https://github.com/dotnet/ef6.git), and mod program.cs;

We have also used this workaround in the past for several years by increasing the LeaseTime in our Configuration.cs file. But as @edswangren already mentioned, it no longer works.

However, i have other information for you: We have been using version 6.2 since its release. The workaround described (LeaseTime > 5min) has definitely worked with it in the past. We don’t have many long running migrations, but we have one this week and it suddenly stops working. So I do not think that the reason for this is an update to 6.3., because we still use 6.2 and it worked before! The reason must be something else.

Today I spent all day to get our migration running somehow.

My migration file to reproduce the issue:

public partial class Longrunningmigration : DbMigration
{
    public override void Up()
    {
        LifetimeServices.LeaseTime = TimeSpan.FromHours(1);
        System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(TimeSpan.FromMinutes(6));
    }
    
    public override void Down()
    {
    }
}

I have tried all versions from 6.1.3 to 6.4

• EF 6.1.3
• EF 6.2 Error Message from migrate.exe:

PM> Update-Database -ProjectName "XXX.Common" -StartUpProjectName "XXX.Common" -ConnectionStringName "XXXDbContext" -Verbose
Using StartUp project 'XXX.Common'.
Specify the '-Verbose' flag to view the SQL statements being applied to the target database.
Target database is: 'XXX' (DataSource: localhost,2433, Provider: System.Data.SqlClient, Origin: Explicit).
Applying explicit migrations: [202001161545394_Long running migration].
Applying explicit migration: 202001161545394_Long running migration.
after 5 minutes of waiting ....
System.Runtime.Remoting.RemotingException: Object '/9b12b632_a813_4f1f_ad7d_8965295def39/zfjvhghlcvw931bbghtfgxls_4774.rem' has been disconnected or does not exist at the server.
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.Design.ToolingFacade.ToolLogger.Verbose(String sql)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.Infrastructure.MigratorLoggingDecorator.ExecuteSql(MigrationStatement migrationStatement, DbConnection connection, DbTransaction transaction, DbInterceptionContext interceptionContext)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.ExecuteStatementsInternal(IEnumerable`1 migrationStatements, DbConnection connection, DbTransaction transaction, DbInterceptionContext interceptionContext)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.ExecuteStatementsWithinTransaction(IEnumerable`1 migrationStatements, DbTransaction transaction, DbInterceptionContext interceptionContext)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.ExecuteStatementsWithinNewTransaction(IEnumerable`1 migrationStatements, DbConnection connection, DbInterceptionContext interceptionContext)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.ExecuteStatementsInternal(IEnumerable`1 migrationStatements, DbConnection connection, DbInterceptionContext interceptionContext)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.ExecuteStatementsInternal(IEnumerable`1 migrationStatements, DbConnection connection)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.<>c__DisplayClass30.<ExecuteStatements>b__2e()
   at System.Data.Entity.SqlServer.DefaultSqlExecutionStrategy.<>c__DisplayClass1.<Execute>b__0()
   at System.Data.Entity.SqlServer.DefaultSqlExecutionStrategy.Execute[TResult](Func`1 operation)
   at System.Data.Entity.SqlServer.DefaultSqlExecutionStrategy.Execute(Action operation)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.ExecuteStatements(IEnumerable`1 migrationStatements, DbTransaction existingTransaction)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.ExecuteStatements(IEnumerable`1 migrationStatements)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.Infrastructure.MigratorBase.ExecuteStatements(IEnumerable`1 migrationStatements)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.ExecuteOperations(String migrationId, VersionedModel targetModel, IEnumerable`1 operations, IEnumerable`1 systemOperations, Boolean downgrading, Boolean auto)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.ApplyMigration(DbMigration migration, DbMigration lastMigration)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.Infrastructure.MigratorLoggingDecorator.ApplyMigration(DbMigration migration, DbMigration lastMigration)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.Upgrade(IEnumerable`1 pendingMigrations, String targetMigrationId, String lastMigrationId)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.Infrastructure.MigratorLoggingDecorator.Upgrade(IEnumerable`1 pendingMigrations, String targetMigrationId, String lastMigrationId)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.UpdateInternal(String targetMigration)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.<>c__DisplayClassc.<Update>b__b()
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.EnsureDatabaseExists(Action mustSucceedToKeepDatabase)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.Infrastructure.MigratorBase.EnsureDatabaseExists(Action mustSucceedToKeepDatabase)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.DbMigrator.Update(String targetMigration)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.Infrastructure.MigratorBase.Update(String targetMigration)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.Design.ToolingFacade.UpdateRunner.Run()
   at System.AppDomain.DoCallBack(CrossAppDomainDelegate callBackDelegate)
   at System.AppDomain.DoCallBack(CrossAppDomainDelegate callBackDelegate)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.Design.ToolingFacade.Run(BaseRunner runner)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.Design.ToolingFacade.Update(String targetMigration, Boolean force)
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.UpdateDatabaseCommand.<>c__DisplayClass2.<.ctor>b__0()
   at System.Data.Entity.Migrations.MigrationsDomainCommand.Execute(Action command)
Object '/9b12b632_a813_4f1f_ad7d_8965295def39/zfjvhghlcvw931bbghtfgxls_4774.rem' has been disconnected or does not exist at the server.

• EF 6.3
• EF 6.4 Error Message from ef6.exe:

C:\Users\XXX\source\repos\XXX\packages\EntityFramework.6.4.0\tools\net45\any>ef6.exe database update --connection-string-name XXXDbContext --verbose --no-color --prefix-output --assembly C:\Users\XXX\source\repos\XXX\Common\src\XXX.Common\bin\Release\XXX.Common.dll --project-dir C:\Users\XXX\source\repos\XXX\Common\src\XXX.Common\ --language C# --root-namespace XXX.Common --config C:\Users\XXX\source\repos\XXX\Common\src\XXX.Common\App.config
info:    Specify the '-Verbose' flag to view the SQL statements being applied to the target database.
verbose: Target database is: 'XXX' (DataSource: XXX, Provider: System.Data.SqlClient, Origin: Explicit).
info:    Applying explicit migrations: [202001161545394_Long running migration].
info:    Applying explicit migration: 202001161545394_Long running migration.
after 5 minutes of waiting ....
info:    System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. ---> System.Runtime.Remoting.RemotingException: Cannot load type 'System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure.Design.IResultHandler2, EntityFramework, Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089'.
info:
info:    Server stack trace:
info:       at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.MethodCall.ResolveMethod(Boolean bThrowIfNotResolved)
info:       at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.MethodCall..ctor(SmuggledMethodCallMessage smuggledMsg, ArrayList deserializedArgs)
info:       at System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.CrossAppDomainSink.DoDispatch(Byte[] reqStmBuff, SmuggledMethodCallMessage smuggledMcm, SmuggledMethodReturnMessage& smuggledMrm)
info:       at System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.CrossAppDomainSink.DoTransitionDispatchCallback(Object[] args)
info:
info:    Exception rethrown at [0]:
info:       at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.HandleReturnMessage(IMessage reqMsg, IMessage retMsg)
info:       at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.PrivateInvoke(MessageData& msgData, Int32 type)
info:       at System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure.Design.IResultHandler2.SetError(String type, String message, String stackTrace)
info:       at System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure.Design.WrappedResultHandler.SetError(String type, String message, String stackTrace)
info:       at System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure.Design.Executor.OperationBase.Execute(Action action)
info:       --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
info:       at System.RuntimeMethodHandle.InvokeMethod(Object target, Object[] arguments, Signature sig, Boolean constructor)
info:       at System.Reflection.RuntimeConstructorInfo.Invoke(BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, Object[] parameters, CultureInfo culture)
info:       at System.RuntimeType.CreateInstanceImpl(BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes, StackCrawlMark& stackMark)
info:       at System.Activator.CreateInstance(Type type, BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes)
info:       at System.Activator.CreateInstance(String assemblyString, String typeName, Boolean ignoreCase, BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes, Evidence securityInfo, StackCrawlMark& stackMark)
info:       at System.Activator.CreateInstance(String assemblyName, String typeName, Boolean ignoreCase, BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes)
info:       at System.AppDomain.CreateInstance(String assemblyName, String typeName, Boolean ignoreCase, BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes)
info:       at System.AppDomain.CreateInstance(String assemblyName, String typeName, Boolean ignoreCase, BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes)
info:       at System.Data.Entity.Tools.AppDomainExecutor.Execute(String operation, Object resultHandler, IDictionary args)
info:       at System.Dynamic.UpdateDelegates.UpdateAndExecuteVoid4[T0,T1,T2,T3](CallSite site, T0 arg0, T1 arg1, T2 arg2, T3 arg3)
info:       at System.Data.Entity.Tools.ExecutorBase.InvokeImpl(String operation, IDictionary args)
info:       at System.Data.Entity.Tools.ExecutorBase.Update(String targetMigration, Boolean force, String connectionStringName, String connectionString, String connectionProviderName, String migrationsConfigurationName)
info:       at System.Data.Entity.Tools.Commands.DatabaseUpdateCommand.Execute()
info:       at Microsoft.DotNet.Cli.CommandLine.CommandLineApplication.Execute(String[] args)
info:       at System.Data.Entity.Tools.Program.Main(String[] args)
error:   Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation.

Unfortunately I have no solution either.

@bricelam So, is it true to say from our discussion last week that the comment here is likely a bogus solution to this issue?