Understanding the PREEMPTIVE_OS_CRYPTIMPORTKEY Wait Type in SQL Server
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SQL Server has many different types of wait types that can occur when running a query. The PREEMPTIVE_OS_CRYPTIMPORTKEY wait type is one of them, and it can be a bit tricky to understand. In this discussion, we will explain what PREEMPTIVE_OS_CRYPTIMPORTKEY wait types are and why they occur in SQL Server.
First, its important to understand what wait types are in general. In SQL Server, a wait type is a state in which a task is waiting for something to happen before it can continue executing. For example, a task might be waiting for a lock to be released, or for data to be returned from a disk. When a task is in a wait state, it is not using any CPU resources, and it is essentially idle until the thing it is waiting for happens.
The PREEMPTIVE_OS_CRYPTIMPORTKEY wait type specifically occurs when a task is waiting for the operating system to import a cryptographic key. This can happen when a query is using certain encryption functions, such as when encrypting or decrypting data.
One thing to note about PREEMPTIVE_OS_CRYPTIMPORTKEY wait types is that they are “preemptive” waits. This means that they are executed by the operating system outside of the normal SQL Server execution context. In other words, the SQL Server query engine is not directly responsible for these waits – they are being handled by the operating system.
If you are seeing a lot of PREEMPTIVE_OS_CRYPTIMPORTKEY wait types in your SQL Server instance, it might indicate that you are using a lot of encryption functions in your queries. This can sometimes cause performance issues, as encryption can be resource-intensive. If you are experiencing performance issues related to PREEMPTIVE_OS_CRYPTIMPORTKEY wait types, you might want to consider optimizing your use of encryption functions, or using faster hardware (such as hardware-accelerated encryption) to improve performance.
In summary, PREEMPTIVE_OS_CRYPTIMPORTKEY wait types occur when a task in SQL Server is waiting for the operating system to import a cryptographic key. These wait types can be caused by the use of encryption functions, and can sometimes lead to performance issues. If you are seeing a lot of PREEMPTIVE_OS_CRYPTIMPORTKEY wait types in your SQL Server instance, you might want to consider optimizing your use of encryption functions to improve performance.
Need help with this wait type or others, Stedman Solutions can help. Need performance help, we can help with a comprehensive performance assessment? Need help on an ongoing basis, our managed services can help.Find out how Stedman Solutions can help you with a free no risk 30 minute consultation with Steve Stedman to find out how we can best help with your SQL Server needs.
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